used to told

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "used to told" is not a grammatically correct phrase in written English.
The correct phrase is "used to tell." For example, "My parent used to tell me to always do my best."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"They used to tell us to just work hard.

The Guardian

Figures are down, they used to tell us.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They used to tell us: 'Marry a soldier.

The New York Times

"She used to tell us about it," he said.

The New Yorker

They used to tell us to go away – they thought the electricity would destroy their homes".

The Guardian

"He used to tell us to study," his son Suresh recalled.

The New York Times

He used to tell us, 'I'm going to screw up the world.

The Guardian - Music

Malcolm Turnbull used to tell us there is never a more exciting time to be alive.

The Guardian

Steve Claridge used to tell us he had a heart complaint and ask to be excused.

The Guardian - Sport

"Before the United States used to tell us not to have relations with Cuba and Iran.

The Guardian

"Mr Ward used to tell us stories from Steinbeck and Hemingway.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct form "used to tell" when describing a past habit of conveying information. For example: "My grandfather "used to tell" me stories about his childhood".

Common error

Be mindful of the grammatical structure when expressing past habits. "Used to" requires the base form of the verb, so always use "tell" instead of "told". For example, avoid saying "He "used to told" me secrets"; instead, say "He "used to tell" me secrets".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "used to told" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form, "used to tell", functions as a verb phrase indicating a past habit or repeated action. Ludwig confirms that "used to told" is not a valid phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "used to told" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "used to tell". As Ludwig AI confirms, there are no valid examples of "used to told" in its database. The intention behind using this phrase is usually to express a past habit of conveying information. Given its incorrectness, it's crucial to use "used to tell" instead. While "used to tell" can be found in diverse contexts, it is most commonly used in neutral to informal settings. Remember to use the base form of the verb after "used to" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

used to say

Replaces "told" with the more common verb "say", maintaining a similar meaning related to speech.

would tell

Employs "would tell" to express a past habit of telling something, maintaining the original context.

used to mention

Substitutes "told" with "mention", slightly altering the emphasis to highlighting information.

shared

Replaces "told" with "shared", implying that the account was known with someone.

recounted

Uses "recounted" as a synonym to told, meaning to narrate or give an account.

narrated

Employs "narrated" as a substitute to told, implying that the account has a longer or more formal form.

related

Uses "related" as a synonym to told, to bring into relation.

expressed

Uses "expressed" instead of "told", to communicate or convey an idea or feeling.

divulged

Replaces "told" with "divulged" which suggest the information was confidential.

disclosed

Employs "disclosed" instead of "told", which implies previously unknown information is now known.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "used to" with verbs like "tell"?

The correct form is "used to tell", as "used to" requires the base form of the verb. "Used to told" is grammatically incorrect.

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

Since ""used to told"" is incorrect, you can use the correct form "used to tell". Alternatively, you could use "would tell" or "used to say" depending on the context.

Is there a difference in meaning between "used to tell" and "would tell"?

"Used to tell" generally describes a past habit or repeated action, while "would tell" also describes a past habit, but can sometimes imply a conditional or hypothetical situation. For most cases, they are interchangeable.

Which is correct, "used to tell" or ""used to told""?

"Used to tell" is the grammatically correct form. "Used to told" is incorrect because "used to" requires the base form of the verb, which is "tell".