TextRanch

The best way to perfect your writing.

Discover why 1,062,726 users count on TextRanch to get their English corrected!

1. Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!

One of our experts will correct your English.

Our experts

I used not to be a good man. vs I used to not be a good man.

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. The phrase 'I used not to be a good man' emphasizes the past habit of not being a good man. On the other hand, 'I used to not be a good man' emphasizes the negation of being a good man in the past. The choice between them depends on the intended emphasis in the sentence.

Last updated: March 25, 2024

I used not to be a good man.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a past habit or behavior.

This phrase is used to talk about a past habit or behavior that was different from the present. It emphasizes the action or state that was true in the past.

Examples:

  • I used not to eat vegetables when I was a child.
  • She used not to like horror movies, but now she enjoys them.
  • He used not to exercise regularly, but now he goes to the gym every day.

Alternatives:

  • I didn't used to be a good man.
  • I used to be a bad man.
  • I wasn't a good man before.
  • I used to behave poorly.
  • I wasn't a kind person in the past.

I used to not be a good man.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to emphasize the negation of being a good man in the past.

This phrase is used to emphasize the negation of a past action or state. It highlights the fact that being a good man was not true in the past.

Examples:

  • I used to not like spicy food, but now I enjoy it.
  • She used to not speak English fluently, but she practiced and improved.
  • He used to not care about his health, but now he is very conscious about it.

Alternatives:

  • I didn't used to be a good man.
  • I used not to be a good man.
  • I used to be a bad man.
  • I wasn't a good man before.
  • I used to behave poorly.

Related Comparisons

What Our Customers Are Saying

Our customers love us! We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283,125 votes.
Also check out our 2,100+ reviews on TrustPilot (4.9TextRanch on TrustPilot).

Why choose TextRanch?

Lowest prices
Up to 50% lower than other online editing sites.

Fastest Times
Our team of editors is working for you 24/7.

Qualified Editors
Native English experts for UK or US English.

Top Customer Service
We are here to help. Satisfaction guaranteed!