had been trailing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been trailing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has been following or lagging behind over a period of time in the past. Example: "The team had been trailing in the competition for several weeks before they finally caught up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was rescued soon after by a European naval patrol that had been trailing the sailboat.

The New York Times

The score gave the Giants, who had been trailing, 17-15, a 21-17 lead.

The New York Times

The fanged light had been trailing him for hours, tricky with clouds.

The New Yorker

They had been trailing 1-0 when he got the equaliser.

The Guardian - Sport

Until recently, Gerhard Schröder, the incumbent chancellor and leader of the ruling Social Democrats, had been trailing.

The Economist

Reuters quoted a witness who said the vehicle had been trailing a white banner with black letters.

The New York Times

He had been trailing behind his main challenger, Yitzhak Herzog, the leader of Zionist Union, for much of the campaign.

The Economist

One evening, at a gallery opening, she encountered a man she had been trailing earlier that afternoon.

The Guardian

At that point they had been trailing 25-12 and were a man down, with Matfield in the sin bin.

The Guardian - Sport

In the rivalry between the two leading Alpine skiing nations, Switzerland had been trailing the Austrians in recent years.

The New York Times - Sports

Her husband had been trailing Senator Ashcroft all evening, and Mrs. Carnahan said she was going to bed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been trailing", ensure the context clearly indicates the subject being followed or the position being behind. For example, "The polls showed he "had been trailing" his opponent for weeks".

Common error

Avoid using "had been trailing" when referring to a situation that is currently happening. This tense indicates a past action that continued for a period of time before stopping. Use "is trailing" for current scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been trailing" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action (trailing) that was in progress for a period of time before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sport

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been trailing" is a versatile past perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe an action of following or lagging behind that occurred over time before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and political reporting. While alternatives like "had been following" or "had been pursuing" exist, "had been trailing" often implies a more passive or less intense form of pursuit. Remember to use the phrase to indicate a past action that continued for a period of time before stopping.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been following

Focuses on the act of following someone or something.

had been tailing

Similar to trailing, but often used in a more clandestine context.

had been pursuing

Emphasizes the act of chasing or seeking something actively.

had been lagging behind

Highlights being in a position behind others.

had been chasing

Suggests a more active pursuit than simply trailing.

had been stalking

Implies a more secretive and potentially sinister form of following.

had been shadowing

Conveys a sense of closely following someone, often discreetly.

had been surveying

Focuses on observing and gathering information while following.

had been dogging

Indicates persistent and relentless pursuit.

had been backseat

Focuses on the act of supervising or helping without acting directly.

FAQs

How can I use "had been trailing" in a sentence?

Use "had been trailing" to indicate that someone or something was following behind for a period of time in the past. For example, "The detective "had been trailing" the suspect for weeks before making an arrest."

What's a good alternative to "had been trailing"?

Depending on the context, you could use "had been following", "had been pursuing", or "had been lagging behind".

What is the difference between "had been trailing" and "was trailing"?

"Had been trailing" indicates an action that occurred over a period in the past and is now complete. "Was trailing" simply indicates a continuous action in the past, which may or may not be complete.

Is it correct to say "had been trailing behind"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "trailing" already implies being behind, so "had been trailing" is usually sufficient. Adding "behind" can be redundant.