had increasingly been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had increasingly been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gradual change or development that occurred over time, often in the past perfect tense. Example: "By the time the report was finalized, the team had increasingly been aware of the project's challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

MCS fisheries officer Bernadette Clarke said mackerel had increasingly been found further north-west in the Atlantic.

The Guardian

In a recent interview on Microsoft's campus here, he said that in practical terms his focus had increasingly been on making sure Xbox reached the market successfully.

The New York Times

One man, who worked with Jóźwik, said he and others had increasingly been on the receiving end of abuse from some residents.

The Guardian

Still, he said later that he had often felt cut off from key information, like the existence and scope of the Watergate tapes that chronicled Nixon's office conversations, and that he had increasingly been shut out of Nixon's inner circle.

The New York Times

William J. Kohler, a lawyer with Butzel Long and a former general counsel for Johnson Controls' automotive business, said suppliers had increasingly been taking measures to protect against bankruptcy filings by their customers.

The New York Times

With a blog, a Facebook page and numerous YouTube videos of his sermons, he had increasingly been regarded by the US as one of the most dangerous al-Qaida leaders.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

In this election, it has increasingly been "words".

The New Yorker

Middle-income families have increasingly been hit hard.

The New York Times

But forget acting: acting up has increasingly been his forte.

The Guardian - Music

But mutual respect has increasingly been replaced by antagonism.

The Guardian - Business

Children have increasingly been caught up in the war.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had increasingly been" to describe situations where a trend or development has become more prominent over a period in the past. It effectively conveys the sense of gradual change.

Common error

Avoid using "had increasingly been" when a simple past tense would suffice. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing the progression of an action or state, not for single, completed actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had increasingly been" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect progressive tense. It indicates an action or state that was in progress and increasing over a period of time leading up to a specific point in the past, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had increasingly been" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that indicates a gradual increase or development in the past before a specific point in time. As confirmed by Ludwig, it effectively conveys a sense of progressive change and is suitable for various contexts, especially news, scientific, and formal writing. While alternatives like "had progressively become" or "had steadily grown" exist, "had increasingly been" provides a versatile option for expressing this specific nuance. Remembering to use it when emphasizing progression, not just a simple past event, is key to effective writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had progressively become

Emphasizes a step-by-step progression into a certain state.

had steadily grown

Highlights a consistent and gradual increase over time.

had gradually evolved

Focuses on a slow and natural development or transformation.

had been steadily rising

Specifically indicates an upward trend or increase in quantity or intensity.

had consistently developed

Implies a reliable and sustained pattern of development.

had become more and more

A simpler, more direct way to express the idea of increasing occurrence.

had gained increasing

Focuses on the act of acquiring or accumulating something in greater amounts.

had amplified

Suggests something that has made a sound louder or a situation more intense.

had expanded

Implies a thing that has grown in size or quantity over time.

had accumulated

Highlights a gradual process of gathering or collecting something over time.

FAQs

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

Use "had increasingly been" to describe an action or state that grew in intensity or frequency over a period of time in the past. For example: "The company "had increasingly been" focusing on consumer-facing Web initiatives."

What are some alternatives to "had increasingly been"?

You can use phrases like "had progressively become", "had steadily grown", or "had gradually evolved" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "had increasingly been" grammatically correct?

Yes, "had increasingly been" is grammatically correct. It is the past perfect progressive tense of the verb "increase", used to describe an action that was ongoing and increasing up to a certain point in the past.

What's the difference between "had increasingly been" and "has increasingly been"?

"Had increasingly been" refers to a trend or action that increased over time before a specific point in the past. "Has increasingly been" refers to a trend or action that started in the past and continues to increase up to the present. For instance: "The use of technology "had increasingly been" integrated into classrooms before the pandemic," versus "The use of technology "has increasingly been" integrated into classrooms recently."