had meanwhile been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had meanwhile been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was happening at the same time as another event in the past. Example: "While the negotiations were ongoing, the team had meanwhile been preparing alternative proposals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Alessandro had meanwhile been created duke of Penna by the Holy Roman emperor Charles V (1522).

Encyclopedia Britannica

India's nonpareil all-rounder Kapil Dev had meanwhile been fretting at the other end.

The Guardian - Sport

Pushkin had meanwhile been transferred first to Kishinyov (1820 23; now Chişinău, Moldova) and then to Odessa (1823 24).

Encyclopedia Britannica

He had, meanwhile, been unsuccessful in attempts to establish a medical practice either at Northampton or at Hampstead.

Britannica

These mice had meanwhile been irradiated to destroy bone marrow cells and would have died without the new cells.

The New York Times

The Bureau, however, keeping a little ahead of the times, had meanwhile been exploring a new escape route — through Berlin's sewer system.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Malaysia's raucous media has meanwhile been having a field day.

The Guardian - Opinion

Having meanwhile been reelected mayor of Lyon, he returned there to resume his duties.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Important contributions to literary understanding have meanwhile been drawn from anthropology, linguistics, philosophy, and psychoanalysis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He has, meanwhile, been able to lean on Mays, who has "eased the pain".

The New York Times - Sports

Some positive feedback on Trustpilot has, meanwhile, been discovered to be fake.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had meanwhile been" to clearly indicate an action or state that occurred during the same timeframe as another event already mentioned, adding a sense of temporal context and narrative flow.

Common error

Avoid using "had meanwhile been" when the timing is not relevant or when it distracts from the main point. Ensure the concurrent action is significant enough to warrant this specific temporal connector.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had meanwhile been" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating that an action or state occurred concurrently with a prior action. As Ludwig AI confirms, this temporal marker adds context and clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

28%

Encyclopedias

26%

Wiki

21%

Less common in

Science

15%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had meanwhile been" serves as a valuable tool for indicating concurrent actions in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used. While its frequency is common across encyclopedias, news, and wiki sources, its usage should be carefully considered to ensure the timing is relevant and not distracting. By understanding its function and context, writers can effectively use this phrase to add depth and clarity to their narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had in the interim been

Replaces "meanwhile" with "in the interim", emphasizing the time elapsed between events.

had during that period been

Substitutes "meanwhile" with "during that period", providing a more explicit temporal reference.

had in the intervening time been

Uses "in the intervening time" instead of "meanwhile", highlighting the period between two points in time.

had at the same time been

Replaces "meanwhile" with "at the same time", focusing on simultaneity.

had concurrently been

Replaces "meanwhile" with the adverb "concurrently", indicating simultaneous occurrence more formally.

had simultaneously been

Uses "simultaneously" in place of "meanwhile", stressing the synchronous nature of the events.

had in parallel been

Emphasizes the parallel nature of the actions with "in parallel".

had all along been

Shifts the focus to a continuous action, implying that something has been happening consistently.

had previously been

Focuses on the prior state or action, diminishing the sense of concurrency conveyed by "meanwhile".

had before that been

Provides a simple substitution, removing the adverbial nuance of "meanwhile".

FAQs

How do I use "had meanwhile been" in a sentence?

Use "had meanwhile been" to show that an action took place during the same period as another action in the past. For example, "While John was away, Mary had meanwhile been working on the project".

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

You can use alternatives like "had in the interim been", "had at the same time been", or "had concurrently been" to express a similar meaning.

What's the difference between "had meanwhile been" and "had since been"?

"Had meanwhile been" indicates actions happening concurrently, while "had since been" implies actions occurring at some point after a specific event.

Is "had meanwhile been" formal or informal?

The phrase "had meanwhile been" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's more about clarity and precision in indicating the sequence and concurrency of events.