He used vs He was using

Both "he used" and "he was using" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "He used" is simple past tense and refers to a completed action in the past, while "he was using" is past continuous tense and indicates an action that was ongoing in the past. The choice between the two depends on whether you want to emphasize the completion of the action ("he used") or the ongoing nature of the action ("he was using").

Last updated: April 08, 2024 • 219 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a completed action in the past.

"He used"

Use "he used" when you want to talk about an action that was completed in the past. It is in the simple past tense.

Examples:

He used his phone to call his friend.
She used to live in Paris.
They used the new software for the project.
I used all my savings to buy the car.
We used to go hiking every weekend.

Show examples from the web [+]

He used jigglers to steal cars.
He used your humanity against you.
He used the tone of someone accustomed to command.
He used a computer in an Internet café over lunch.
He used the darknet to livestream her murder.
He used the hostage crisis to cover a theft.
He used my healing abilities to raise money for it.
He used me for a lot of things.
He used a coat hanger to get his family out.
He used his fists on me.
He used emergency code Tango Zebra.
He used the app to RSVP for a mixer at TopMeet that's happening tonight.
He used the emergency excuse on you?
He used my wife's American Express.
He used his credit card to book a flight.
He used other people to get at me.
He used a photo to I.D. me.
He used many bad words to describe our academy.
He used my lotion and now you can see the difference.
He used a word that means a lot of dudes.

Alternatives:

he utilized
he employed
he applied
he made use of
he took advantage of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to an ongoing action in the past.

"He was using"

Use "he was using" when you want to describe an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past. It is in the past continuous tense.

Examples:

He was using his computer when the power went out.
She was using her phone to text her friend.
They were using the new equipment for the experiment.
I was using the oven to bake a cake.
We were using the map to find our way.

Show examples from the web [+]

He was using prisoners for slave labor.
He was using my sister to impersonate his daughter, Perry.
He was using a secret e-mail account.
He was using Aram to find that person.
He was using the battery as a power source.
He was using Wood to get to me.
He was using them to keep warm.
He was using coffee filters for toilet paper.
He was using her like she was just another...
He was using a secret e-mail account.
He was using Charlotte to get to David and take him out.
He was using his job as night porter as cover.
He was using supercooled liquid helium.
He was using his girlfriend as a punching bag.
He was using them to steal data.
He was using a velvet roped pedestal.
He was using a finger of speech.
He was using them on himself.
He was using a fake Irish accent; it's called acting.
He was using a demo laptop.

Alternatives:

he was employing
he was utilizing
he was making use of
he was taking advantage of
he was engaged in using

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He used vs He was using

"He used"

"He was using"

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