had been under consideration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been under consideration" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was being thought about or evaluated over a period of time in the past. Example: "The proposal had been under consideration for several months before a final decision was made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

A painting by Laura Owens, a Los Angeles artist, had been under consideration for months.

The New Yorker

Mr. Daley had been under consideration as a running mate for Mr. Gore.

The New York Times

Gov. Marc Racicot of Montana had been under consideration as attorney general.

The New York Times

Some other protections that had been under consideration, however, are still under review.

The New York Times

Securitization had been under consideration for future budgets, he said, but was moved to the forefront after Sept. 11.

The New York Times

He said Officer Sharma had been desperate for a promotion to inspector, which had been under consideration for some time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

All have been under consideration to run.

The Guardian - Opinion

The legislation has been under consideration for two years.

The New York Times

Such a resolution has been under consideration by American and British diplomats for several days.

The New York Times

This proposal, known officially as the Reformulation Study, has been under consideration for 40 years.

The New York Times

The idea, part of a new "personalized listings" offering, has been under consideration for several years.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly indicates who was doing the considering and what was being considered.

Common error

Avoid using "had been under consideration" when referring to something that is currently being considered. Use "is under consideration" or "is being considered" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been under consideration" functions as a verb phrase indicating that a subject was in a state of being evaluated or thought about at some point in the past. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable status in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been under consideration" is a versatile verb phrase used to denote that something was being evaluated or thought about in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts, particularly news and business settings. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about the timeframe and the subject being considered. Alternatives like "was being considered" or "had been reviewed" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was being considered

Focuses on the ongoing process of consideration at a specific time in the past.

had been contemplated

Emphasizes a deeper level of thought and reflection.

had been contemplated

Emphasizes a deeper level of thought and reflection.

had been reviewed

Implies a more formal assessment or evaluation process.

was being evaluated

Highlights the active process of assessment and judgment.

had been assessed

Focuses on the completed evaluation of something.

had been deliberated

Suggests a careful and thorough discussion.

had been examined

Implies a detailed inspection or investigation.

had been entertained

Suggests the idea was considered as a possibility.

had been on the table

Indicates that the idea was formally presented and discussed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had been under consideration"?

You can use alternatives like "was being considered", "had been contemplated", or "had been reviewed depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is under consideration" instead of "had been under consideration"?

Yes, but the meaning changes. "Is under consideration" means something is currently being evaluated, while "had been under consideration" indicates it was being evaluated in the past.

What's the difference between "had been considered" and "had been under consideration"?

"Had been considered" simply means something was thought about. "Had been under consideration" implies a more formal or lengthy evaluation process.

Can I use "had been under consideration" in a formal setting?

Yes, "had been under consideration" is appropriate for formal settings. It's often used in news reports, business documents, and academic papers to describe past evaluations or deliberations.