used to do

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "used to do" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when you want to describe past habits or events that no longer occur. For example: "I used to go to the beach every weekend when I was younger."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I used to do it myself.

The New York Times

I never used to do that.

The New Yorker

I used to do stand-up comedy.

The New York Times

That thing we used to do.

The New Yorker

(He used to do this onstage too).

The New York Times - Arts

Henry Rono used to do it.

The New Yorker

Did she used to do something else?

The New York Times

I used to do some acting.

The New Yorker

Indeed, we used to do just that.

The New York Times

Exactly like Mom used to do.

The New York Times

"This is what Saddam used to do".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "used to do" to clearly indicate a past habit or state that is no longer true in the present. This helps avoid ambiguity and provides a clear temporal context for your writing.

Common error

Avoid confusing "used to do" (past habit) with "use to do" (incorrect) or "be used to doing" (being accustomed to). For example, "I used to do yoga" (correct), not "I use to do yoga" (incorrect) or "I am used to doing yoga" (different meaning).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "used to do" functions as a past habit marker, indicating an action or state that was true in the past but is no longer true in the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "used to do" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express a past habit or state that no longer exists. As verified by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for a wide range of contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, ensure you're not confusing it with "be used to doing", which expresses being accustomed to something. For alternatives, consider "formerly did" or "did in the past" to convey similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly did

Emphasizes a previous action or state that has been discontinued.

used to perform

More formal alternative, often used when discussing tasks or duties.

did in the past

A more direct and literal way of stating a past action, lacking the nuance of habit.

habitually did

Emphasizes the habitual nature of the past action.

would do

Implies a repeated action in the past, similar to "used to do" but can also suggest a hypothetical situation.

practiced doing

Implies a regular or professional engagement in an activity.

once did

Highlights a single instance of an action in the past, rather than a habitual one.

at one time did

Similar to "once did", but can also imply a longer period of time in the past.

in the old days did

Evokes a sense of nostalgia or a time long past.

in earlier times did

Similar to "in the old days did", but with a slightly more formal tone.

FAQs

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

Use "used to do" to describe something you regularly did in the past but no longer do. For example, "I used to do volunteer work every Saturday."

What's a good alternative to "used to do"?

Depending on the context, you could use "formerly did" or "did in the past" as alternatives to "used to do".

Is it correct to say "use to do" instead of "used to do"?

No, "use to do" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form to express a past habit is "used to do". The "d" is essential.

What is the difference between "used to do" and "be used to doing"?

"Used to do" describes a past habit, while "be used to doing" means being accustomed to something. For example, "I used to do karate" (past habit), versus "I am used to doing karate" (I am accustomed to it).