used to help

USAGE SUMMARY

"used to help" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that was done regularly in the past, or was done to assist someone in the past. For example: "My grandparents used to help us with our homework every night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Maisler: He used to help us picket.

Cornell University

Maisler: He used to help us to picket.

Cornell University

He used to help us picket every time.

Cornell University

Jokes even used to help us process serious events.

Vice

My mother used to help.

The New Yorker

"I used to help, evenings, Saturdays.

The New Yorker

"I'm not used to help," he says.

The Guardian

"He used to help out in the kitchen," she said.

The New York Times

"IoT technology can be used to help law enforcement.

The Guardian - Tech

Some unsold produce was used to help feed rescue workers.

The New York Times - Food

The proceeds are used to help finance the research.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past habits or actions, ensure the context clearly indicates that the activity is no longer occurring. For example, "My grandfather "used to help" me with my math homework, but now I'm in college."

Common error

Avoid using "used to helping" when you mean "used to help". "Used to help" indicates a past habit, while "used to helping" implies that someone was accustomed to the act of helping, which is grammatically awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "used to help" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past habitual action or state. It combines the auxiliary verb "used to", which denotes a past habit, with the base form of the verb "help". This construction indicates that the subject regularly performed the action of helping in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

26%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "used to help" is a grammatically sound and very common verb phrase used to describe past habitual actions or states. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correctly used to describe something done regularly in the past or to assist someone. It finds frequent usage in News & Media, Scientific articles, and Academic contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the context clearly indicates the activity is no longer occurring. Alternatives such as "would assist", "aided in the past", or "helped regularly" can be used to add variety to your writing. Understanding its function and purpose, as well as avoiding common errors, will help you wield this phrase effectively in your writing and conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

used to aid

This phrase replaces "help" with "aid", providing a synonym that maintains the core meaning.

helped regularly

This phrase highlights the regularity of the help provided, similar to "used to help", but uses a different adverb.

previously helped out

This alternative uses the phrasal verb "helped out" to convey the idea of giving assistance in the past.

would assist

This phrase indicates a habitual action of providing assistance, similar to "used to help", but employs a different modal verb.

once assisted

This option focuses on a past instance of assistance, without necessarily implying regularity.

aided in the past

This alternative emphasizes that the assistance occurred in the past, offering a slightly more formal tone.

would lend a hand

This idiomatic expression conveys the idea of offering help in a more informal way.

customarily assisted

This option offers a more formal and less common way to express the idea of habitual assistance.

was known to help

This phrase emphasizes the reputation or general knowledge of someone's helpful nature.

habitually supported

This phrase emphasizes the habitual nature of the support, indicating a consistent pattern of assistance.

FAQs

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

"Used to help" indicates a past habit or action that no longer occurs. For example, "She "used to help" her mother in the garden every weekend."

What are some alternatives to "used to help"?

You can use alternatives like "would assist", "aided in the past", or "helped regularly" depending on the context.

Is "used to helping" grammatically correct instead of "used to help"?

While "used to helping" is grammatically sound, it is rarely used and may sound awkward. "Used to help" is more common and clearly conveys the intended meaning of a past habit.

What's the difference between "used to help" and "helping"?

"Used to help" describes a past habit or repeated action, while "helping" is the present participle and describes an ongoing action or state. For instance, "He "used to help" at the soup kitchen" means he helped there regularly in the past, but may not anymore. "He is helping at the soup kitchen" indicates he is there helping now.