had been served

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been served" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of legal documents or formal situations to indicate that something has been delivered or presented to someone, often referring to legal papers. Example: "The defendant confirmed that the notice had been served before the court date."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some 200 customers had been served.

The New York Times - Food

Justice, it seemed, had been served.

The Guardian

She insisted that justice had been served.

The Guardian

God had been served, only Mammon remained.

The Guardian - Travel

From the German point of view, justice had been served.

The New Yorker

His lawyer, Damien Brown, said justice had been served.

The New York Times

The Kings, of course, thought justice had been served.

The Washington Post

Mr. Wickham insisted that the greater good had been served.

The New York Times

Steenkamp's mother, June, said justice had been served.

The Guardian

He estimated that 350,000 meals had been served there.

The New York Times

My apprenticeship had been served in an atmosphere of regret.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been served", ensure the context clearly indicates who performed the action and who or what received it. This clarifies the passive voice construction.

Common error

Avoid using "had been served" in sentences where the actor is unknown or irrelevant, as this can lead to ambiguity. If the actor is important, rephrase in the active voice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been served" functions as the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that an action of serving was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been served" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread application across various domains. It's most commonly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, typically to describe a completed action with emphasis on the recipient. When writing, clarity is key: ensure the actor and recipient are clear, or consider using the active voice for more direct communication. Remember to consider alternative phrases like "was provided" or "had received" based on the specific context to improve readability and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been delivered

Focuses on the act of delivering something tangible.

had been administered

Specifically used for treatments, medications, or procedures.

was presented with

Highlights the act of presenting something, often used in more formal settings.

had received

Shifts the focus to the recipient of the service or item.

was dispensed

Implies something was distributed or given out, often in a controlled manner.

was provided

Focuses on the act of providing something, removing the passive voice emphasis.

was given

Emphasizes the act of giving, offering a slightly less formal tone.

had undergone

Implies a process or experience, suitable when referring to treatments or procedures.

had experienced

Similar to "had undergone", but emphasizes the subjective experience.

was subjected to

Indicates that someone or something was forced to endure a particular treatment or action.

FAQs

How is "had been served" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had been served" indicates that an action of serving or providing something was completed in the past before another point in time. For example, "The guests were happy because dinner "had been served" promptly."

What are some alternatives to "had been served"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "was provided", "was presented with", or "had received" as alternatives to "had been served".

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "had been served"?

While "had been served" is grammatically correct in the passive voice, using the active voice can often make your writing clearer and more direct. For instance, instead of "The subpoena "had been served" to him", you could say "The process server served him the subpoena."

What does "notice had been served" mean?

When something like a "notice "had been served"", it means that the notice was officially delivered to the intended recipient, usually in a legal or formal context. This implies that the recipient is now aware of the information contained in the notice.