has just served

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has just served" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has recently completed a service or task, often in a context related to food, hospitality, or assistance. Example: "The waiter has just served our meals, and they look delicious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Gyllenhaal is the tearaway who has just served a prison term for bank robbery.

Independent

The Aston Villa midfielder has just served a club suspension after being arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

The Guardian - Sport

He began stargazing while at secondary school, and has just served on the panel of the Royal Observatory's Astronomy Photographer of The Year award.

Independent

Over in the world of mobile phones, however, the 'mobile advertising platform' AdMob has just served its one hundred billionth ad.

The Guardian - Tech

Sami Macbeth has just served a five-year stretch for a crime he didn't commit – the theft of some jewels from the safe of a rich Hampstead widow.

The Guardian - Books

Meanwhile, Alana notes that her private landlord has just served a notice saying the family's rent is going up by £25 a month.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Sirloins and spareribs were eaten, and the waitress had just served chocolate sundaes and brownies.

The New York Times - Magazine

He told them that he had just served a fifteen-course lunch to fourteen diners.

The New Yorker

He had just served his final course, a dessert of apple mousse with cinnamon churros.

The New York Times

The American had just served a six-month prison sentence for her part in the Balco scandal.

Independent

They wanted a beer and a chance to discuss the mess they had just served up against Algeria.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "has just served" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "recently concluded" may be appropriate in academic or professional settings.

Common error

Avoid using "has just served" in contexts where the action isn't truly a service or doesn't involve providing something. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound repetitive or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has just served" functions as a present perfect tense construction, indicating an action that was completed in the recent past and is relevant to the present. Ludwig's examples show it being used to describe recently finished actions related to providing a service or fulfilling a role.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has just served" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase in English to describe an action that has been recently completed, especially when it involves providing a service or fulfilling a role. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to consider the formality of the context and choose alternative phrasings, like "recently completed", for more formal settings. Being mindful of overuse and ensuring the action is genuinely a service-oriented one will further enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has only just finished

Adds emphasis to the immediacy of completion, reinforcing the 'just' aspect.

recently completed

Focuses on the completion aspect with an emphasis on recentness, removing the service connotation.

has barely finished

Highlights that the action was completed with little time to spare.

just finished

Emphasizes the immediate completion of an action without specifying the nature of the action.

has recently provided

Replaces 'served' with 'provided', broadening the scope beyond traditional service contexts.

newly completed

Highlights the newness of the completion, less about the service itself.

freshly concluded

Focuses on the fresh, recent nature of the conclusion.

concluded recently

More formal, emphasizing the conclusion of a task or period.

wrapped up moments ago

Informal, emphasizing the very recent completion.

has forthwith completed

A more archaic and formal phrasing, signifying immediate completion.

FAQs

How can I use "has just served" in a sentence?

Use "has just served" to indicate that someone has recently completed providing a service or fulfilling a role. For example, "The waiter "has just served" our drinks" or "The minister "has just served" his term in office".

What are some alternatives to "has just served"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "recently completed", "just finished", or "has recently provided" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "has just served" formal or informal?

"Has just served" is generally considered neutral in tone. However, in more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "recently concluded".

What's the difference between "has just served" and "has just finished"?

"Has just served" typically implies an action of providing a service or fulfilling a duty, while "has just finished" simply indicates the completion of any action. The former has a connotation of assistance or duty fulfilled.