construction - Rhetorical questions with "used to"


The phrase someone used to is used to talk about habits in past.



A year ago, I used to (not) do stuff.



Now I was wondering about a particular kind of question. They are kind of rhetorical and they contain a negative:



Wasn't he British?!



Here's an example: I read a book and 10 pages in I realize how much writing sucks. I actually like the author. I tell a friend and he or she says...



Really. Didn't he use to write really well?!




  • Is that correct (I suppose not)?

  • Would it be understood?

  • What could I say instead?


Also...



  • would the following be understood as an attempted play with the language:



Usedn't he to write very well?!




Answer




Didn't he use to write really well?!



There is some debate around whether it should be "didn't he use to" and "didn't he used to" which is discussed at length in Are there alternatives to the common construction “didn't used to”? The short version is that "didn't use" to is more commonly considered correct.


But yes, this usage would be understood and is spoken rather frequently.


As for "usedn't", it certainly wouldn't be mistaken for actual English so readers would have to assume you were playing around.


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