It’s time for our weekly grammar rule for all of those content writers among us.

Come on! I expect more enthusiasm than that! SMILE! Life is good!

Our grammar rule today is used to versus use to.

For example:

I used to belong to the Rotary Club. (CORRECT)

vs.

I use to belong to the Rotary Club.

Why is the first example correct? The final -d is required indicating the past participle. This same rule applies to the word supposed.

(Honestly, what makes grammar something that so many people don’t like is words like past participle. I’m not going to get into what a past participle is unless someone asks. Just remember to say used to and supposed to and everything will be cool.)

This information came from The St. Martin’s Handbook, Second Edition, as well as Woe Is I.

Interesting note:

When the sentence becomes a question or a negative statement, use use instead.

Did she use to belong to the Rotary Club?

She didn’t use to belong to the club.

Why?

Did use is another way to say use. Did move is another way to say move. You wouldn’t say did moved would you? Therefore, you wouldn’t say did used. You also wouldn’t say didn’t moved.

Hope this helps. I certainly learned something with this lesson.

Robin