increase used to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increase used to" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an attempt to express a change in frequency or habit, but it lacks proper grammatical structure. Example: "The increase used to be more noticeable before the changes were implemented."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The payroll increase used to compute the credit would be capped at $5 million, or a maximum credit of $500,000.

The New York Times

In the Vancouver study, for example, the 10-μg/m increase used to derive ORs is nearly an order of magnitude greater than the interquartile range (11.7 13.1; Table 2) of exposures.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But the council said the increase will be used to make improvements.

The Guardian

The seminar as a teaching method increasing was increasingly used to engage students in interactive education.

Huffington Post

If mobile phones are giving farmers access to markets, how can they be used to increase access to healthcare?

The Guardian

Mr. Reid is not proposing to increase the payroll tax used to finance Social Security.

The New York Times - Health

Other modifications are used to increase the shelf life or food value of a plant.

The Guardian

The amplifiers may be used to increase the accuracy of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The New York Times

Epogen is used to increase red-blood cell levels in anemic kidney-disease patients.

The New York Times

The trades can be used to increase trading volume or revenue.

The New York Times

The money raised will be used to increase the company's cash balances.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to past trends of growth, avoid the phrase "increase used to". Instead, clarify the sentence to use phrases like "the increase that was once" or rephrase to show a clearer relationship between the increase and its past state.

Common error

A common mistake is directly attaching "used to" to "increase", creating an ungrammatical phrase. "Used to" requires a verb afterwards, not a noun. Correct it by saying "there used to be an increase" or restructure the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increase used to" functions as an attempt to describe a past trend or habit related to growth. However, it is grammatically incorrect, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. Proper usage requires restructuring to form a coherent sentence.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "increase used to" is grammatically flawed and should be avoided. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect, indicating a need for restructuring. To express the idea of a past trend of growth, alternatives such as "the increase that was once" or "there used to be an increase" are recommended. While the phrase appears in a few news and scientific contexts, its incorrect grammar limits its usability in formal writing. Remember to prioritize grammatical accuracy and clarity when describing past trends.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase that was once

Replaces the verb-ed "used to" structure with a descriptive adjective clause, emphasizing the past state.

rise that used to be

Substitutes "increase" with "rise", offering a similar meaning with a slightly different term.

growth formerly applied

Changes the structure to highlight the previous application of a growth strategy or process.

expansion previously utilized

Similar to 'growth formerly applied', this swaps out both "increase" and "used to", indicating past utilization.

escalation once common

Replaces "increase" with "escalation" focusing on a past state of being common.

increase that was typical

Substitutes "used to" with "that was typical" to express the same idea of a common practice.

advance formerly seen

Uses "advance" instead of "increase" and focuses on what was previously observed or apparent.

increment once implemented

Emphasizes the past implementation of an increment or addition.

surge previously observed

Describes a surge that was noted or witnessed in the past.

boost formerly employed

Highlights a boost that was used as a tactic or strategy in the past.

FAQs

How can I properly use the word "increase" when talking about past habits?

Instead of "increase used to", try phrases like "the increase that was once" or "there used to be an increase". The key is to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in expressing past frequency.

What's a more grammatically sound way to express a past trend of growth or rise?

You can use alternatives like "rise that used to be" or "growth formerly applied" to convey the idea of a former increase.

Is "increase used to" ever considered grammatically correct?

No, "increase used to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The phrase requires restructuring to properly convey its intended meaning.

What are some alternatives to "increase used to" that maintain a similar meaning?

Consider using "increase that was once", "expansion previously utilized", or "escalation once common" depending on the context you wish to convey.