having been paying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "having been paying" is not correct in standard written English.
It is an awkward construction and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "Having been paying my bills on time, I expect a good credit score."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Lead singer and guitarist Omar Sanchez and drummer Marlon Maranon, both from Barranquilla, Colombia, having been paying together since they were kids.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I had been paying $800.

The New York Times

NATO has been paying special attention.

The Economist

"Wal-Mart has been paying on time.

The New York Times

I should have been paying more attention.

The New Yorker

Recently, those efforts have been paying off.

The New York Times

If only Miles had been paying attention.

The New Yorker

This is fairly obvious, if you have been paying attention.

The Economist

We've been paying those insane roaming fees for nothing.

The New York Times

They should have been paying closer attention to other things.

The New York Times - Magazine

We lost and have been paying taxes since 2003.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "having been paying" in formal writing. Opt for simpler and more direct alternatives like "having paid" or "having made payments" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Resist the urge to use the present perfect continuous tense ("") where a simple past perfect tense ("") would suffice. Overuse of the continuous form can make your writing sound unnatural and convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having been paying" functions as a perfect continuous gerund phrase, indicating an action that has been ongoing up to a certain point in the past. However, as Ludwig AI suggests, its use can often be clunky and is usually better replaced with simpler alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "having been paying" is a grammatically valid but stylistically awkward construction. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not considered correct in standard written English. While it aims to convey a continuous action of paying up to a certain point, simpler alternatives like "having paid" or "having made payments" are generally preferred for clarity and conciseness. The phrase's limited usage and potential for misinterpretation make it advisable to use alternative phrasing in most contexts. The best practice is to favor directness and clarity in writing, choosing the most effective way to communicate the intended meaning without unnecessary complexity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having paid

This alternative removes the continuous aspect, focusing on the completed action of paying.

having made payments

This option emphasizes the act of making multiple payments, suitable when the continuous nature of the action is important.

having a history of paying

This phrase highlights a track record of payments, emphasizing the duration and consistency.

with a record of payments

This alternative focuses on presenting evidence of payment history.

after making payments

This option emphasizes the completion of the payment process and what follows.

having consistently paid

This emphasizes the consistency of payment without implying an awkward continuous structure.

having remitted payment

This suggests the action of sending payments, and the awkward construction is avoided.

having submitted payment

This implies the action of payment submission, and the awkward construction is avoided.

with payments made

This focuses on the status of payments already completed, providing a more concise and natural phrasing.

with a payment history

This concentrates on the payment record as a whole, offering a broader view of payment activities.

FAQs

What's a more natural way to say "having been paying"?

You can often replace "having been paying" with simpler alternatives like "having paid" or "having made payments" for improved clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "having been paying"?

While grammatically possible, "having been paying" is rarely the most elegant choice. Consider if a simpler tense like past perfect or present perfect would be more effective.

How does "having been paying" differ from "having paid"?

"Having been paying" implies a continuous action over a period, while "having paid" suggests a completed action. Choose the phrase that best represents the intended meaning.

Are there specific contexts where "having been paying" is more acceptable?

While not inherently wrong, the phrase is generally awkward. Aim for clearer alternatives unless the continuous nature of the payment is crucial to the sentence's meaning.