I used often

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "I used often" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you have done something on a regular basis in the past. For example: "I used to go to the park often, but now I don't have much time."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The last proved especially fruitful for Darwin: one winter he bought 40 hours of instruction in stuffing birds from a black freedman, "John", and late in life recalled that "I used often to sit with him, for he was a very pleasant and intelligent man".

The Guardian - Books

I find working on the new upgraded machine much more fun than the previous version of Windows 98. Plus it helped me optimize the programs I used often, gave me an update of the McAfee antivirus software and removed all unwanted folders, courtesy of the CyberMedia function.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Beauty is not a word I use often.

The Guardian - Arts

This is not a word I use often or hear used often, except lightly, ignorantly, or manipulatively.

The New Yorker

If I drew a map of my pattern of movement, there would be really heavy lines in the places that I use often and then these lighter lines.

The New York Times - Arts

Instagram is also a location-based application I use often because it's a simple way to share images with my friends about what I'm doing.

The New York Times

And I only remember things that I use often.

TechCrunch

Three sites I use often are Digg, Slashdot and del.icio.us/popular.icio.us/popular

TechCrunch

I use often Paul Taggart's definition.

Huffington Post

And that's not a word I use often.

Huffington Post

It's not a word I use often.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and style, consider rephrasing "I used often" to "I often used to" or "I would often". These alternatives are more conventional and widely accepted in English.

Common error

Avoid placing "often" directly after "used" without the infinitive "to". While technically understandable, it deviates from standard English usage and can sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I used often" attempts to function as an expression of a repeated action in the past. While understandable, it doesn't follow standard English syntax. Ludwig provides examples showing more conventional phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I used often" aims to describe a recurring past action, but it's not the most conventional or grammatically elegant way to express this idea. As Ludwig indicates, standard English prefers alternatives like "I often used to" or "I would often". While technically understandable, "I used often" can sound awkward and is more suited to informal contexts. For clearer and more impactful writing, consider using the suggested alternatives to enhance your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I often used to

Swaps the position of "often" and "used to", slightly altering the emphasis.

I frequently used to

Replaces "often" with "frequently" to denote a high occurrence rate.

I would often

Uses "would" to indicate a past habit or repeated action.

I was often using

Employs a continuous tense to describe repeated actions in the past.

I had a habit of using

Indicates a regular pattern of using something.

I regularly used

Replaces "often" with "regularly" to emphasize the consistent use.

I customarily used

Uses "customarily" to suggest a habitual or traditional usage.

I repeatedly used

Highlights the repeated nature of the usage.

I had frequent use of

Focuses on having frequent access or application of something.

I habitually used

Indicates a deeply ingrained habit of using something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "I used often" for better clarity?

Consider using phrases like "I often used to", "I frequently used to", or "I would often" for improved readability.

What's a more common way to express frequent past actions than "I used often"?

Phrases such as "I regularly used" or "I habitually used" are more typical and stylistically preferred for describing past habits.

Is there a difference in meaning between "I used often" and "I often used to"?

While both phrases attempt to convey a similar meaning, "I often used to" is grammatically standard and more clearly understood. The former can sound awkward to native English speakers.

When is it appropriate to use "I used often" in writing?

While not strictly incorrect, "I used often" is less common and can be stylistically weak. It's generally better to opt for more conventional alternatives like "I would often" or "I frequently used".