had been visiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been visiting" 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. Example: "She had been visiting her grandmother every weekend until she moved to another city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the time, Romel had been visiting from Ecuador.

The New York Times

The International Subversives had been visiting the master terminal frequently.

The New Yorker

Mr. Ramirez had been visiting his girlfriend in the hospital.

The New York Times

It was a village I had been visiting for years.

The Guardian - Books

Pritchard had been visiting family in the Des Moines area.

The Guardian

Several days ago his brother had been visiting him.

The New York Times

They had been visiting the Netherlands to show the child to Mr Goes's parents.

Independent

(Steven Parent, who had been visiting the estate's caretaker, was shot outside).

The New Yorker

(O.K., my cousins, whom I had been visiting in the Catskills, gave them to me).

The New York Times

Linwood Dean, 31, and his family had been visiting from Pennsylvania for three days.

The New York Times - Health

Until 13 December 2013, I had been visiting my personal tutor twice a week.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been visiting" to describe an ongoing action in the past that occurred before another event. For instance, "She "had been visiting" her parents regularly until she moved overseas."

Common error

Avoid using "had been visiting" when a simple past tense is sufficient. For example, instead of "He "had been visiting" the museum yesterday," use "He visited the museum yesterday."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been visiting" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that was in progress over a period of time leading up to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI provides examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been visiting" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect continuous verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from reputable sources, predominantly in news and media. It's essential to use this phrase to accurately depict an ongoing action in the past that precedes another event. While alternatives like "had frequented" or "had stopped by" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to avoid using this tense when a simple past tense suffices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had paid a visit to

Formal alternative which emphasizes a visit to someone.

had spent time at

Focuses on the duration of the visit, highlighting the time spent in a particular location.

had frequented

This alternative suggests a regular pattern of visits, emphasizing the habitual nature of the action.

had been a guest of

Highlights the role of being invited and hosted during the visit.

had stopped by

Implies a brief, casual visit, differing from a more extended or planned stay.

had stayed with

Highlights the act of residing temporarily with someone during the visit.

had journeyed to

Emphasizes the travel aspect of visiting, suggesting a longer or more significant trip.

had checked in on

Suggests a brief visit to ensure someone's well-being or status.

had vacationed in

This phrase specifically indicates a visit for leisure or holiday purposes.

had hung around

Implies a casual and unstructured visit or presence in a place.

FAQs

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

Use "had been visiting" to describe an action that was ongoing in the past before another action took place. Example: "They "had been visiting" the park every day until it started raining."

What are some alternatives to "had been visiting"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "had frequented", "had stopped by", or "had paid a visit to".

When is it appropriate to use "had been visiting" versus "visited"?

"Had been visiting" implies a continuous or repeated action in the past before another event, while "visited" simply describes a completed action in the past. For instance, "He "had been visiting" his grandmother regularly before she moved" versus "He visited his grandmother last week."

Is "had been visiting" formal or informal?

"Had been visiting" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.