as I used

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as I used" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to refer to a previous action or method, but it lacks clarity and completeness. Example: "I prefer to follow the same method as I used in my last project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Not as easily as I used to.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I don't get as wound up as I used to.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm not as impatient as I used to be.

The Guardian - Music

I'm not as young as I used to be".

The New York Times

"I'm not as awed as I used to be.

The Guardian

I'm not as quick as I used to be.

The Guardian

"I can't recover as quickly as I used to.

The Guardian - Sport

I'm not as tough as I used to be.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm honestly not as bad as I used to be".

The Guardian - Music

"I wasn't nearly as flexible as I used to be.

The Guardian

"I'm really not as nuts as I used to be.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past habits or states, ensure your sentences are grammatically complete. Use phrases like "as I used to do" or "as I did before" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid truncating comparisons by omitting the verb. Saying "I'm not as good as I used" is incomplete. Instead, clarify with "I'm not as good as I used to be" or "I'm not as good as I used to be at it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as I used" functions as an incomplete comparative conjunction. Typically, it introduces a comparison to something the speaker did or experienced in the past, but it lacks the necessary completion to be grammatically sound. As Ludwig suggests, it would be better to use "as I did" or "as I previously employed".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "as I used" appears frequently in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to its incompleteness. Ludwig's analysis suggests that it typically functions as an incomplete comparative conjunction, requiring additional words to convey the intended meaning. For clarity and grammatical correctness, it is better to use alternatives like "as I used to", "as I did before", or other similar phrases. The phrase appears primarily in news and media contexts and holds a neutral register, while still being considered grammatically incorrect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

like I used to

This alternative specifies a comparison to a past state or action of the speaker.

as I did before

This option uses 'did' to replace the verb and 'before' to indicate a previous time.

as I have in the past

This phrasing uses a more formal structure to refer to past actions.

in the same way I used to

This version adds emphasis on the manner or method of performing an action in the past.

as I previously did

This alternative replaces "used" with "previously did", offering a more formal tone.

similarly to how I once did

This variant employs a more descriptive and elaborate way to express past actions.

in a manner akin to my past actions

This is a more formal and complex way of referencing past behavior.

according to my previous habits

This alternative focuses on habitual actions from the past.

matching my former practices

This phrase emphasizes the comparison of current actions to established past practices.

as was my custom

This option suggests a habitual or traditional way of acting in the past.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "as I used" in a sentence?

The phrase "as I used" is generally considered grammatically incomplete. For past habits or comparisons, use alternatives such as "as I used to" or "as I did before" to ensure clarity.

What can I say instead of "as I used" to indicate a past action?

You can use clearer alternatives like "as I did in the past", "as I previously mentioned", or "as I used to do" depending on the context.

Is "as I used" grammatically correct, and why or why not?

No, "as I used" is typically grammatically incorrect because it lacks a verb or completion of the comparison. For example, "I'm not as fast as I used" needs to be completed as "I'm not as fast as "as I used to be"".

What's the difference between "as I used" and "as I used to"?

"As I used" is an incomplete phrase that requires a verb or object to make sense. In contrast, "as I used to" is a complete phrase commonly used to describe past habits or states, such as "I don't run "as fast as I used to"".