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CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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having been been

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "having been been" is not correct in written English due to the repetition of the word "been." It cannot be used in any context as it stands, as it is a grammatical error.
Example: "Having been informed of the changes, I decided to proceed with caution."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

When Loew left Vienna in 1939, she was known as Gertha Felsöványi, having been been divorced once and widowed.

Also on Wednesday, after a flurry of legal challenges, more than 100 people were freed from police custody, having been been held since Monday under what amounted to a suspension by Hogan of the writ of habeas corpus – the right to be released from an arrest made without lawful cause.

News & Media

The Guardian

Ross Moriarty did not play in that game, having been been banned after being sent off for a dangerous tackle in their clash against Ireland in February.

News & Media

BBC

The 25 monitors withdrew after just over an hour, having been been unable to set up an access corridor for specialist teams to investigate the crash, he added.

News & Media

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Reporting on having been there, on having been, is a big part of the work".

News & Media

The New Yorker

This has been been corrected.

Pyatt had been been benched for the previous two games.

That vine has been been growing slimmer and slimmer.

News & Media

The New York Times

The photograph and caption have been been changed.

Since then, few doctors have been been prosecuted.

News & Media

The New York Times

No detail had been been forgotten in the choreography.

News & Media

BBC
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "having been been" in formal writing as it is grammatically incorrect. Opt for alternatives like "having been" or rephrase the sentence for clarity and correctness.

Common error

Don't repeat 'been' consecutively. It's a common mistake to accidentally include an extra 'been' when constructing perfect tenses. Always double-check your verb constructions to ensure they are grammatically sound.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

1.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having been been" is an incorrect attempt to form a past perfect continuous construction. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a grammatical error due to the unnecessary repetition of the auxiliary verb 'been'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "having been been" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in all forms of writing. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, the repetition of "been" is redundant and violates standard English grammar rules. When you intend to express an action or state that occurred over time before another event, use the correct form "having been" followed by a past participle, or rephrase the sentence entirely. While examples of this error can be found, primarily in News & Media contexts, they represent mistakes rather than accepted usage. Always prioritize grammatical accuracy to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.

FAQs

Why is "having been been" grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "having been been" is grammatically incorrect because it involves a redundant repetition of the auxiliary verb "been". The correct form typically involves "having been" followed by a past participle to form the past perfect continuous tense, without the extra "been".

What are some correct alternatives to "having been been"?

Instead of "having been been", you can use phrases like "after having been", "once having been", or simply rephrase the sentence to use a different grammatical structure that avoids the repetition.

How can I avoid making the mistake of using "having been been"?

To avoid this mistake, carefully review your sentence structure when using perfect tenses. Ensure that you are not inadvertently repeating auxiliary verbs. Proofreading your writing can also help catch such errors.

In what contexts might I mistakenly use "having been been"?

This error may occur when trying to emphasize the duration or completion of an action in the past, leading to an unnecessary repetition of "been". Be mindful of the intended meaning and choose the correct tense and structure to convey it accurately.

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Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

1.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: