had been steering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been steering" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past before another action occurred, often in a narrative context. Example: "He had been steering the ship through the storm when the engine failed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Qantas, the Australian carrier, said it had been steering clear of the area by 400 nautical miles for several months.

The Guardian

Bear Stearns had been steering a significant amount of stock transactions through his firm for years, Mr. Kleinhendler said.

The New York Times

That is particularly true if UMNO decides to play on tensions between Malaysia's majority Malays and its ethnic-Chinese and Indian minorities.Until the Perak storm broke, Mr Najib had been steering a mildly reformist course.

The Economist

A man in a beret who had been steering a mobility scooter in wide circles around the actress pulled up next to her, causing the handlers, who had been standing at a distance, to edge closer.

The New Yorker

In a recent interview, Mr. Kerik said that he had been steering clear of Mr. Giuliani, lest his troubles hurt his friend, although they did cross paths at the Sept. 11 ceremony at ground zero this fall.

The New York Times

A growing band of critics say there were signs everywhere that Mr. Farley, a veteran of the hugely leveraged takeovers of the 1980's, had been steering the company toward disaster for years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The biggest concern has been steering clear of the week that Uber goes public, they said.

The New York Times - Tech

Schemes he has been steering through the corridors of Brussels will soon be changing the life of Europe's bourgeoisie.

The Economist

Karen Lanphear, who has been steering the Transition Initiative alongside Richard Kühnel since its inception, found this portion of the meeting excruciating.

The New York Times - Magazine

They are the spouses, the boyfriends, the loved ones, all who, up until this week, have been steering clear of malls and anything that requires gift-wrapping.

The New York Times

"The technologies that have been steering the lion's share of income and wealth gains to those atop the economic pyramid are in their infancy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been steering" to describe a continuous action of guiding or directing that occurred before another event in the past. This helps establish a sequence of events and provides context for the narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "had been steering" when a simpler past tense like "steered" is more appropriate. "Had been steering" emphasizes the duration and continuity of the action before another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been steering" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action of directing or guiding that was in progress over a period of time before another event or point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been steering" is a grammatically correct past perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe an ongoing action of guiding or directing before another event in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usage. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts and serves to provide context and background information by emphasizing the duration of the prior action. While applicable in formal writing, its neutral tone also makes it suitable for general narratives. Consider alternatives such as ""had been guiding"" or ""had been directing"" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been guiding

Focuses more on providing direction or advice.

had been directing

Emphasizes control and management of a course or activity.

had been navigating

Highlights the process of finding a route or path.

had been managing

Implies overseeing and handling something to achieve a goal.

had been controlling

Stresses the exercise of power or influence over something.

had been leading

Focuses on taking the initiative and showing the way.

had been piloting

Specific to the act of operating a vehicle or aircraft.

had been maneuvering

Highlights skillful or strategic movement.

had been driving

Focuses on propelling or pushing something forward.

had been channelling

Implies directing something into a particular path or direction.

FAQs

How to use "had been steering" in a sentence?

Use "had been steering" to describe an action of guiding or directing that was in progress before another event occurred in the past. For example, "He had been steering the company towards growth when the recession hit."

What can I say instead of "had been steering"?

You can use alternatives like "had been guiding", "had been directing", or "had been navigating" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been steering" or "was steering"?

"Had been steering" indicates an action that continued for some time before another action or time in the past. "Was steering" simply indicates an action in progress at a specific time in the past. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning and context.

What's the difference between "had been steering" and "had steered"?

"Had been steering" describes a continuous action leading up to a point in the past, while "had steered" indicates a completed action before a point in the past. For example, "He had been steering the boat for hours before they reached the island" versus "He had steered the boat safely through the storm".