refrain from serving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from serving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to avoid providing a service or assistance in a particular context. Example: "Due to the ongoing issues, we kindly ask all staff to refrain from serving customers until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And Davidson College decided to refrain from serving Chick-fil-A at a school sponsored event after students started a petition.

Huffington Post

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has petitioned Francis to honor the legacy of his nature-loving namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, and refrain from serving factory-farmed meat, eggs and dairy at the papal dinner table.

Huffington Post

Be considerate of possible citrus allergies and refrain from serving to anyone with such an issue.

WikiHow

Refrain from serving anything that your guests may be allergic to (avoid serving peanuts, milk, egg and fish in large quantities since these are causes of the most common food allergies).

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In the study, the researchers randomly assigned nonobese women to have liposuction on their protuberant thighs and lower abdomen or to refrain from having the procedure, serving as controls.

The New York Times

Chinese people expect leaders to refrain from abusing power and to serve as an exemplar for followers.

Frontiers of Business Research in China

"A common commitment to refrain from special favors," he wrote in a memo at the time, "serves the same economic function as a common commitment to refrain from stealing".

The New York Times

Many veterans refrain from 'causing trouble' believing that the time to fight was when they served.

Huffington Post

Yet, the acknowledgement of the death of people can serve as a constant example of past mistakes that future generations should refrain from repeating (Robins 2014).

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

Iraqi Shiites refrain from retaliating.

The New Yorker

He planned to refrain from the latter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing individuals or organizations to not offer something, use "refrain from serving" for clarity and to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "refrain from serving" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing formal language in casual settings. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "avoid serving" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from serving" functions as an imperative construction, used to instruct or advise someone to avoid offering a service. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is often found in instructions or guidelines.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

34%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "refrain from serving" is a grammatically sound and usable expression employed to instruct someone to avoid providing a service or assistance. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it is essential to consider the context. It appears to be most common in Wiki, News & Media, and Science related sources. For informal communications, alternatives such as "avoid serving" may be more fitting. Be mindful of the subtle differences between "refrain from serving" and similar expressions like "refuse to serve", to ensure your language is both accurate and appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoid serving

This is a more direct and less formal way to express the same idea.

abstain from serving

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes a deliberate choice to not serve.

desist from serving

This option is quite formal and less common in everyday language.

hold back from serving

This suggests a temporary or conditional withholding of service.

do not provide

This alternative is a more general way to express the idea of not giving service.

cease to serve

This implies stopping an existing service.

halt service

This suggests stopping the service being offered.

discontinue service

This alternative highlights terminating the service.

suspend service

It implies a temporary interruption of service.

refuse to serve

It indicates unwillingness to provide the service.

FAQs

How to use "refrain from serving" in a sentence?

You can use "refrain from serving" to instruct someone to avoid providing a particular service or assistance. For example, "Due to the ongoing issues, we kindly ask all staff to refrain from serving customers until further notice."

What can I say instead of "refrain from serving"?

You can use alternatives like "avoid serving", "abstain from serving", or "do not provide" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "refrain from serving"?

"Refrain from serving" is suitable in formal settings, official announcements, or when emphasizing a deliberate decision to withhold a service. In less formal situations, "avoid serving" might be more appropriate.

Is "refrain from serving" the same as "refuse to serve"?

While both indicate not providing a service, "refrain from serving" suggests a temporary or conditional avoidance, whereas "refuse to serve" implies a more definite unwillingness or rejection.