"Used to" vs "be used to" vs "get used to" - what's the difference?

These three phrases look similar but mean completely different things.

Once you learn the small differences between them, you will understand a huge part of everyday English. The tricky part is that all three contain the word "used," but the grammar and meaning after it change completely. Let us break them down one at a time.

• "I used to smoke." (I smoked in the past, but I don't now)
• "We used to live in Paris." (We lived there before, but not now)
• "There used to be a cinema on this street." (It was here before, but it has gone)
• "Did you use to play football at school?" (Note: after "did," we drop the "d" and write "use to")
• Refers to something that was regularly true in the past but has changed.

• "I'm used to the cold." (The cold is normal for me, I'm accustomed to it)
• "She's used to working late." (This is normal for her)
• "Are you used to the new system yet?" (Has it become familiar?)
• "After ten years in London, he's used to the rain." (It no longer bothers him)
• Talks about familiarity or accustomisation, something that was once strange but isn't anymore.

• "I'm getting used to the cold." (I'm in the process of acclimatising)
• "You'll get used to it." (You'll adapt over time)
• "It took me a while to get used to driving on the left." (The adjustment happened slowly)
• Talks about the change, moving from "strange" to "familiar."

In a professional setting you might say, "It takes new staff about a month to get used to our procedures." In casual conversation the same idea sounds like, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it." The meaning is identical, only the tone is more relaxed.

There is no strong British and American split here. Both varieties use all three phrases the same way. One small note: some American speakers occasionally say "I used to could" in very informal southern dialects, but this is nonstandard and best avoided in writing.

• Used to: past habit → not anymore
• Be used to: already familiar → accustomed now
• Get used to: becoming familiar → in progress

Using "used to" for a current situation. "I am used to work early" ✗ → "I am used to working early" ✓ (note: "be/get used to" needs -ing, not infinitive).

Another frequent error is adding an extra "to" after "used to" for past habits. "I used to going to the gym" ✗ → "I used to go to the gym" ✓. Remember, past habit "used to" is always followed by the plain infinitive with no "-ing."

• "Used TO go" points backwards, to the past.
• "Used TO working" (with -ing) points to something present and familiar.

"Would" can also describe past habits, similar to "used to." For example, "When I was young, we would spend every summer by the sea." However, "would" only works for repeated actions, not for past states. You can say "I used to have a dog," but not "I would have a dog." So when you are talking about how things were rather than what someone did, "used to" is the safer choice.