she used to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she used to" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that happened often in the past but doesn't happen anymore. For example: "She used to go to the beach every weekend, but now she never has the time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's what she used to tell us.

BMC Oral Health

She used to be happy.

The Guardian - Film

She used to average forty.

The New Yorker

She used to write poetry.

The New York Times - Magazine

"She used to seem so glamorous".

The New Yorker

She used to sit next to Trotsky".

Independent

"She used to be pretty," he said.

The New Yorker

She used to keep the chickens here.

Independent

Did she used to do something else?

The New York Times

She's like she used to be".

The New York Times - Sports

She used to take me there".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she used to" to clearly indicate a past habit or state that is no longer true. For example, "She used to play the piano every day, but now she focuses on her career."

Common error

Avoid using present tense verbs after "used to". It's incorrect to say "She used to plays the piano". The correct form is "She used to play the piano".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she used to" functions as a grammatical marker of past habit or state. It indicates an action or condition that was true in the past but is no longer the case. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she used to" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express past habits or states that are no longer true. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted in written English and functions primarily to contrast past situations with the present. While generally neutral in tone, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When writing, remember to follow "used to" with the base form of the verb and avoid using present tense verbs afterwards. For alternative ways to express similar ideas, consider phrases like "she would often" or "she was in the habit of". Overall, "she used to" is a reliable and versatile phrase for indicating past behaviors and conditions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she would often

Indicates a frequent action in the past, less formal.

she once

Indicates something she did at a specific point in the past.

she was in the habit of

Emphasizes a repeated action or routine in the past.

she was known to

Suggests a recognized pattern of behavior in the past.

she had a tendency to

Highlights a natural inclination or predisposition.

she at one time

Implies a past activity that is no longer current.

she was accustomed to

Suggests a familiarity or adaptation to a past situation.

previously, she

Highlights a change from a past state or action.

she formerly

A more formal way of saying she did something in the past.

in the past, she

A general way to refer to past actions or states.

FAQs

How can I use "she used to" in a sentence?

Use "she used to" followed by a verb in its base form to describe something she did regularly or was true in the past but is no longer the case. For example, "she used to live in London" or "she used to be shy".

What is the difference between "she used to" and "she is used to"?

"She used to" indicates a past habit or state that no longer exists. "She is used to" means she is accustomed to something and it's not new or strange to her. For example, "she used to sing" (but doesn't anymore) versus "she is used to singing" (she's accustomed to it).

What can I say instead of "she used to"?

You can use alternatives like "she would often", "she was in the habit of", or "she formerly", depending on the context.

Is "she used to" formal or informal?

"She used to" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, alternatives like "she formerly" might be more appropriate for very formal writing.