be of assistance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be of assistance" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to provide help or support. You can use this phrase when asking for help or offering to help someone else. For example: - Could you be of assistance in carrying these boxes? - Our team is always happy to be of assistance to our clients. - Thank you for being of assistance during this difficult time. - I'm sorry, I cannot be of assistance with this issue. - Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you in the future.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The being able to be of assistance for a human being is huge," the mother told researchers.

Huffington Post

In this case, the excellent advice offered by your instructors on assisting chute opening may be of assistance to you.

WikiHow

Here a critic should be of assistance.

Independent

"Might I be of assistance?" he asked.

The New Yorker

The right statement from you could be of assistance".

The New Yorker

Haikal, though enfeebled by exhaustion, nonetheless tried to be of assistance.

The New York Times

He said he had arrived shortly after the blast and was waiting to be of assistance.

The Guardian

But it was important to New Jersey, and we wanted to be of assistance.

The New York Times

"We're working to respond to their requests for whatever information that can be of assistance".

The New York Times - Sports

"We thought we would be of assistance to them," said Aleksei Sitnikov, a coordinator at Stanford.

The New York Times

Everywhere he went, Diaghilev was careful to cultivate those who might be of assistance.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When offering help, use "be of assistance" to politely express your willingness to provide support. For instance, "If you need any help with the project, I am happy to be of assistance."

Common error

While "be of assistance" is a correct and useful phrase, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations. Simpler phrases like "help" or "lend a hand" are often more appropriate in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be of assistance" functions as a polite and formal way to offer help or support. Ludwig examples indicate its usage in varied contexts, from customer service to professional interactions, affirming its role in expressing willingness to provide aid.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be of assistance" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to offer help or support. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is primarily to express willingness to aid in a polite and formal manner, making it suitable for professional or academic settings. While very common in news, science and formal business contexts, remember that in a informal context it may sound too strong.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer assistance

Highlights the act of proposing help to someone.

be of service

More formal and emphasizes a duty to assist.

provide support

Focuses on the act of giving aid or resources.

give aid

Emphasizes the act of providing help or relief in a more direct way.

lend a hand

Uses a more informal and direct expression of offering help.

extend a helping hand

A more figurative and empathetic way of offering assistance.

be helpful

A simpler and more general way to express the capability of providing help.

offer guidance

Focuses on providing advice or direction.

be beneficial

Indicates that something will have a positive effect or be advantageous.

be a resource

Highlights the availability of something or someone to provide help when needed.

FAQs

How can I use "be of assistance" in a sentence?

You can use "be of assistance" to offer help politely. For example, "How can I "be of assistance" to you today?" or "I am happy to "be of assistance" with that task".

What's a more casual way to say "be of assistance"?

If you're looking for a less formal alternative to "be of assistance", consider using phrases like "help", "lend a hand", or "give a hand" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "be of assistance"?

The phrase "be of assistance" is suitable in formal or professional settings when you want to offer help in a polite and respectful manner. It's commonly used in customer service, business interactions, and academic environments.

What is the difference between "be of assistance" and "be of service"?

While both phrases indicate a willingness to help, "be of assistance" is more general, while "be of service" often implies a more formal or professional duty to provide help.