use to run

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "use to run" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "used to run" when referring to a past habit or state. Example: "I used to run every morning before work."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He continues: "It produces methane, which we use to run an engine generator.

The Guardian

You can also look at how operators source the energy they use to run their camps.

Independent

H.P. sells the computer servers and storage systems that customers use to run Oracle's database software.

The New York Times

Nobody was sure what pace they ought to use to run uphill for so long.

The New York Times - Sports

Computer Associates, based in Islandia, N.Y., makes software that big companies use to run their computer systems.

The New York Times

The word 'crisis' doesn't even begin -" "And an industrial-strength motor, the kind they use to run jackhammers".

The New York Times - Books

The second is to possibly come up with cash that United can use to run its day-to-day operations.

The New York Times

Instead, he developed a software framework — SpotLight Parking — that garages and valet operators can use to run existing businesses.

The Washington Post

PPS also provides link-level emission rates, which we are going to use to run very fine scale air quality models to estimate individual exposure to air pollution.

Cornell University

Companies including banks and airlines pay Micro Focus to extend the life of the computers they use to run their businesses, for example to manage data.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

So big, in fact, that they would be of little use to run-of-the-mill hackers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a past habit or state, always use "used to run" instead of "use to run". For example, "I used to run marathons" is correct.

Common error

Avoid omitting the 'd' in "used to" when describing past habits or repeated actions. Omitting the 'd' changes the meaning and makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "use to run", while frequently encountered, functions incorrectly as an attempt to describe a past habit or state. Grammatically, it requires the past tense marker '-d' to be correct, thus becoming "used to run". Ludwig AI confirms that "use to run" is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

11%

Wiki

8%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "use to run" is frequently found across various sources, but, as Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form, "used to run", is used to describe past habits or states. While its intended purpose is clear, the missing 'd' makes the phrase inaccurate. When writing, ensure you use "used to run" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity. Alternatives like "would run" or "formerly ran" can also be used, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Used to run

This is the grammatically correct form of the phrase, indicating a past habit or state.

Would run

Indicates a past habit or typical behavior, similar to "used to run".

Formerly ran

Emphasizes that the action of running occurred in the past but is no longer happening.

Previously ran

Similar to "formerly ran", indicating a past action.

Habitually ran

Highlights that the running was a regular habit in the past.

Regularly ran

Indicates that the running occurred frequently in the past.

Ran often

A simpler way to express frequent running in the past.

Was known to run

Suggests a past reputation or characteristic related to running.

Had a habit of running

More explicitly states that running was a habit.

At one time ran

Indicates running occurred at some point in the past.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "use to run"?

The correct way to express a past habit is to say "used to run". The phrase "use to run" is grammatically incorrect.

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

You can use "used to run" to describe something you did regularly in the past but no longer do. For example, "I used to run every morning before work."

What are some alternatives to "used to run"?

Alternatives include "would run", "formerly ran", or "previously ran", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "use to run" and "used to run"?

"Use to run" is grammatically incorrect. "Used to run" is the correct phrase to indicate a past habit or state that is no longer true.