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". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

(OP)
"We used to manually assemble the motor, but now automation is used."
I would much rather use the word previously in the above sentence.
Am I wrong in thinking that "used to" is poor grammer ?

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

To me (as a UK English speaker), "Used to" is absolutely valid and (in the context of the example in the original post - studiously ignoring the split infinitive) preferable to "Previously".

It's a form of the imperfect tense that implies something that was once, but is no longer, a habitual action - as opposed to "previously" which tells you a bit about the order of events in the past, but little (unless in combination with words like "would") about how often they happened.

A.

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

In the Deep South culture in which I was raised, "...used to..." was a common part of our speech patterns. But as I mingled more and more with non-native English speakers, I started using "...previously..." because it was more explicit / less confusing. Follows the same philosophy of using NATO Phonetics when transmitting letters of the alphabet over the telephone to another person.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

As a native speaker I would more than likely use - "used to" 3in verbal discussion but for written /formal would prefer - originally - as in "we originally assembled the motors manually....."

It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

They all mean slightly different things.

Maybe:

We used to use method C, which for many years was the best available. Previously, we had a disastrous dalliance with method B. Originally, of course, we used method A but that fell out of favour when the new management took over. Only recently has it become possible to adopt method D.

A.

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

The beauty of English and how she is spoke, 101 way to say the same thing.

It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

Quote (Artisi)


The beauty of English and how she is spoke, 101 way to say the same thing.

With that in mind, I can highly recommend the book 'The Mother Tongue: English & How It Got That Way', by Bill Bryson. I particularly liked the chapter covering profanity.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

Get used to it.

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

"used to" is common in the South of the US, as stated previously :D But come to think of it, my parents (from the Midwest) also say that. jerry1423, where are you from, if I may ask?

My favorite is "fixin' to", as in, here's what I'm doing next.

Please remember: we're not all guys!

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

Fixin' to try something I used to could do, but ain't done in awhile.

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

for me the second clause looks odd ...
"but now automation is used" vs "but now assembly is automated"

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

This kind of thing used to bother me...
But, now it don't no more...

David
Connect with me on LinkedIn. http://lnkd.in/fY7-QK
Quote: "If it ain't broke, I must not've fixed it good enough"

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

davidinindy,
I do love comments in the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" category.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

"used to" is o.k. with me, but, "used to could" makes a bolder statement. "We used to could spend all day barefoot," for example.

f-d

ípapß gordo ainÆt no madre flaca!

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

Nothing much of this sort bothers me anymore, but my wife seems to be upset when I say "when I get a round tuit".

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

English is a transient language with many vestigial oddities that annoy those who seek purity.

However, I've long given up being annoyed by English language pollution by current and former colonials who still use it, but seek to improve or simplify it.

Steve

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

Dont get it,, they say English s the toughest language in the world to learn, but I had no problem whatsoever , starting at an age of around two months ( spent too much time sleeping before that)

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

Well, there is always Esperanto. smile

==========
"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

Hokie66 -

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The Help for this program was created in Windows Help format, which depends on a feature that isn't included in this version of Windows.

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

Thanks, dgallup. The one I had was dowel shaped, but I somehow lost it. I am looking for one more like a cylinder, with a refreshing ale inside. There is a Kiwi brewery called Tui which makes some decent beers, so that will have to do.

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

"I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too."
Mitch Hedburg

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

I don't drink anymore, but I don't drink any less either.

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The Help for this program was created in Windows Help format, which depends on a feature that isn't included in this version of Windows.

RE: ". . . used to . . . " I hate it !

You must be used to it.

Design for RELIABILITY, manufacturability, and maintainability

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