he is served

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he is served" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is receiving food, assistance, or a legal document. Example: "At the restaurant, he is served his favorite dish, and he can't wait to dig in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

He is served by a group of retainers called koppa tengu ("leaflet" tengu) who act as his messengers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He is served with an eviction notice; in a harrowing scene, Yoav and the crew are sent to move his belongings.

The New Yorker

He is served by an excellent cast, which makes it disappointing that he then lets the work run 10 minutes beyond its natural length.

The Guardian

He is served by two quarrelsome advisers, the White Minister (the appealing tenor Peter Tantsits) and the Black Minster (the virile bass Joshua Bloom), who engage in some nimble bits of physical comedy.

The New York Times - Arts

Assemblyman Daniel J. O'Donnell, who is pondering a run for Congress, is trying to keep things simple: he tries to eat only half of whatever he is served at meals.

The New York Times

The updated schedule of interviews by staff for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is Jan . 29 Knoblauch, if he is served the subpoena; Jan . 30 Pettitte; Feb. 5, Clemens; Feb. 7, McNamee.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

He is serving life.

The Guardian

He is serving a 12-year sentence.

The New York Times

He is serving three consecutive life sentences.

The New York Times

He is serving a four-year sentence.

The New York Times

He is serving a seventeen-year sentence.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he is served" when you want to emphasize the act of providing something to someone, whether it's food, a legal notice, or a particular service.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "served" with "deserved". "Served" implies an action of providing, while "deserved" means worthy of something. Using the wrong term can completely alter the meaning of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is served" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone is the recipient of an action. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts ranging from receiving food to being given legal notices. It positions the subject as the receiver, not the initiator, of the verb's action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he is served" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates someone is the recipient of an action. As shown in Ludwig examples, it can denote receiving food, a legal document, or being attended to. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase. While generally neutral, its formality varies depending on the context, appearing in news, encyclopedias, and even wiki articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he gets served

Emphasizes the action being done to him, adding a sense of passivity.

he receives

Focuses on the act of getting something, altering the context.

he is provided with

Highlights the provision of something, making it more formal.

he is given

Simple substitution, less specific about the nature of what's given.

he is supplied with

Implies a more systematic or consistent provision.

he is presented with

Highlights a formal offering, changing the tone.

he is offered

Highlights the act of offering, rather than receiving.

he obtains

Focuses on the act of acquiring, differing from a passive reception.

he enjoys

Shifts the focus to the experience of having something, implying pleasure.

he benefits from

Shifts the focus to the positive outcome of receiving something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he is served" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "he is provided with" or "he is presented with" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "he is served" and "he gets served"?

"He is served" is a neutral statement about someone receiving something. "He gets served" can imply that someone is being dealt with negatively or receiving a negative consequence, especially in informal contexts.

Is it correct to use "he is served by" in all contexts?

While grammatically correct, "he is served by" is most appropriate when referring to someone being assisted or attended to by others, as in "he is served by an excellent cast". In other cases, "he is served" is sufficient.

Can "he is served" refer to a legal process?

Yes, "he is served" is often used to describe the delivery of legal documents, such as a subpoena or eviction notice.