refrain from serving this

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from serving this" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to avoid providing or presenting something, often in a formal or polite context. Example: "Due to the dietary restrictions of our guests, please refrain from serving this dish at the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

ii) Long-tenured directors to refrain from serving on the audit, compensation and nomination/governance committees.

Harvard University

"To your short question, whether we have done the Lacedaemonians and allies any service in this war, we say, if you ask us as enemies, that to refrain from serving you was not to do you injury; if as friends, that you are more in fault for having marched against us.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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

She said she refrained from serving guests bottles of beer or glasses of wine and deliberately served alcoholic drinks in plastic cups out of sensitivity for the neighborhood's values.

Los Angeles Times

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

Moreover; he did not even refrain from expressing this openly in his conversations.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Therefore, we refrain from reproducing this theoretical analysis.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

However we refrain from interpreting this result in terms of gender for methodological reasons.

Comparative Migration Studies

For these reasons we refrain from interpreting this effect.

BMC Nursing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing others about dietary restrictions or allergies, using "refrain from serving this" provides a polite and clear directive. For example, "Due to potential nut allergies, please "refrain from serving this" dessert."

Common error

While "refrain from serving this" is grammatically correct, avoid using it in very informal contexts. Simpler phrases like "don't serve this" may be more appropriate in casual settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from serving this" functions as an imperative clause, specifically instructing someone to avoid a particular action. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

Academia

33%

News & Media

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "refrain from serving this" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for issuing a polite directive to avoid serving something. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for contexts where dietary restrictions or protocols must be respected. While its register leans towards formal, it is applicable in varied scenarios, as shown in the examples from Ludwig. For less formal situations, simpler alternatives like "avoid serving this" or "don't serve this" may be more appropriate. Ultimately, the phrase serves to prevent undesirable outcomes by clearly instructing others on what not to serve.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoid offering this

This alternative is less formal and direct, softening the instruction slightly.

refrain from presenting this item

This alternative specifies that a specific item is not to be presented.

do not provide this

This is a more direct and less polite instruction.

abstain from presenting this

This option is more formal and emphasizes a deliberate choice to withhold something.

hold back on serving this

This is a more casual way to say not to serve something.

do not include this in the service

This option means to not incorporate something in the serving or providing of something.

omit serving this

This alternative means to leave something out or exclude it.

don't put this out

This is an informal and direct way of saying not to serve or display something.

cease serving this

Implies stopping a current practice of serving something.

desist from serving this

A very formal and somewhat archaic way to say to stop serving something.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "refrain from serving this"?

The phrase "refrain from serving this" is appropriate in formal settings or when a polite instruction is needed, such as when dealing with dietary restrictions or allergies. In informal settings, simpler phrases may be more suitable.

Are there less formal alternatives to "refrain from serving this"?

Yes, less formal alternatives include "avoid serving this", "don't serve this", or "do not serve this". The best choice depends on the specific context and audience.

Is it grammatically correct to use "refrain from serving this"?

Yes, "refrain from serving this" is grammatically correct. "Refrain" is a verb that means to abstain from doing something, and "serving this" is the action being abstained from.

What's the difference between "refrain from serving this" and "avoid serving this"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "refrain from serving this" is generally more formal and polite, whereas ""avoid serving this"" is slightly less formal and more direct.