have been served

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been served" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that someone has received official documents or notice, such as a summons or complaint. Example: "The defendant has been served with the court papers and is required to respond within 30 days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Will justice have been served?

The New Yorker

All parties have been served.

Yale University

Millions have been served, virtually.

The New York Times

Whose interests have been served?

The Guardian

The process will have been served.

The New York Times

Thousands have been served — and thousands more are still hungry.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

I have been serving under Salva Kiir.

The Guardian

More recently they have been serving other purposes.

The New York Times

We have been serving the community for over 30 years.

Cornell University

However, some have been serving up weed for years.

Vice

Justice has been served.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been served" in legal contexts, ensure the subject clearly indicates who or what received the official document or notice. For example, "The defendant has been served with a summons."

Common error

Avoid using "have been served" with a singular subject. The correct form for a singular subject is "has been served". For example, instead of "The documents have been served", use "The document has been served".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been served" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject of the sentence has received or been subjected to a particular action, often in a legal or procedural context. Ludwig's examples show its use in contexts ranging from serving legal documents to serving food to customers.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been served" is a common and grammatically correct passive verb phrase used to indicate that someone or something has received or been subjected to a particular action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s broadly applicable, particularly in legal or procedural contexts, signaling the completion of a process. While versatile, it’s crucial to maintain subject-verb agreement and consider alternative phrasings like ""have received"" or "have been notified" depending on the desired emphasis. The phrase is frequently found in news, academic, and scientific sources, reflecting its neutral register and wide applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have received

Focuses on the act of receiving something, like a notice or document, rather than the action performed on it.

have been provided with

Emphasizes the act of equipping or supplying someone with something necessary.

have been given

Emphasizes the act of giving or providing something to someone.

have been presented with

Suggests a formal delivery or offering of something.

have undergone

Highlights the experience of going through a process or event.

have been handed

Implies a more casual or informal delivery.

have experienced

Focuses on the personal encounter with a situation or event.

were subjected to

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

the process is complete

Focuses on the completion of a process.

action has been taken

Highlights that an action has been carried out.

FAQs

How do I use "have been served" in a sentence?

Use "have been served" to indicate that someone or something has received an official document or notice. For example, "The subpoena "has been served" to the witness."

What is the difference between "have been served" and "have received"?

"Have been served" implies a formal delivery, often in a legal context, while "have received" is a more general term. For instance, you might "have been served" a subpoena, but you "have received" a gift.

What can I say instead of "have been served" in a formal context?

In a formal context, you can use phrases like "have been notified", "have been presented with", or "have undergone", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is "have been served" passive or active voice?

"Have been served" is in the passive voice. The active voice equivalent would be something like, "The process server served the documents".