Quick question about generalisation/habits in past

Question

Is it acceptable to use 'would' to talk about generalisations of the past (which aren't true anymore today) or past habits?

For example:

Everyone would smoke before it was discovered to be detrimental to your health.

Everyone build their houses by themselves until it became too expensive.

I would go running every day till my doctor told me my miniscus are too weak to do so.

Are these examples correct? Any other mistakes or areas which could be improved?

Thanks in advance.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

PureJimiIs it acceptable to use 'would' to talk about generalisations of the past (which aren't true anymore today) or past habits?

Used to is the more natural choice. Would does not seem natural to me when there is a clause with a time expression telling when the action stopped. It seems OK to me with a prepositional phrase indicating the time period when the action was habitual.

Everyone used to smoke before it was discovered to be detrimental to one's health.
Before the surgeon general's report linking smoking to cancer, people would smoke several packs a day.

Everyone used to build their houses by themselves until it became too expensive.
Up through the mid-19th century, everyone would build their own houses.

I used to go running every day until my doctor told me my meniscuses were too weak to do so.
When I was young, I would go running every day.

Quick question about generalisation/habits in past

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions