serve as indication

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serve as indication" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that something functions as a sign or signal of something else. Example: "The increase in sales figures can serve as indication of the effectiveness of our new marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Although, the enterotoxigenic potential of the detected organisms are yet to be determined, their presence in foods could serve as indication for the need to promote awareness about the possible health hazards due to handling and processing of traditional fermented foods.

International Journal of Food Contamination

When asked why in open-ended fashion, 11 (18.9%) PCPs responded that the intake transition records serve as indication that their patient has enrolled in a CR program, 13 (22.4%) responded that it provides comprehensive documentation of the patient's cardiac status, and 8 (13.8%) PCPs stated that the intake transition record provides additional and new patient information.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The arrows also serve as indications of the direction of reactions.

BMC Systems Biology

These GO terms serve as indications of significantly different biological processes undergoing in flowers of the two different genotypes.

BMC Genomics

These compounds could serve as indications of an increased risk of death and spur terminal investment in reproduction, especially when predators can be satiated, or when escape is unlikely.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Both parameters P 1 z) and P 2 z) serve as indications of the average alignment and orientation of the water dipole relative to the channel axis and thus permit the prediction of the water orientation inside aquaporin channels[ 31- 35].

BMC Genomics

It serves as indication of feature context only, as it does not take into account the backprojection uncertainty.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Roger Holland of PopMatters commented that the song was the epitome of how, according to him, Swift was more given in uptempo tempos, and that it served as indication to the nature of Swift's debut album.

Wikipedia

The number of times a given site is observed during sequencing then serves as indication of methylation level.

Cancer Medicine

Participants were asked to rate the severity of a major depressive disorder or a generalized anxiety disorder and nausea or dizziness served as indication irrelevant medical events.

BMC Psychiatry

The means of all measures of a day that followed after the first two baseline measures served as indication for cortisol response to stimulus presentations.

BMC Veterinary Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serve as indication", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being indicated. For example, specify what the sign points to or what it suggests.

Common error

Avoid using "serve as indication" when the evidence is weak or circumstantial. Instead, use qualifiers like "might" or "could" to reflect the uncertainty. For instance, instead of saying "the data serves as indication of a strong correlation" when the correlation is weak, consider saying "the data might serve as indication of a weak correlation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serve as indication" functions as a linking expression, connecting a piece of information or evidence to a potential conclusion or interpretation. It suggests that something acts as a sign or signal. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serve as indication" is a grammatically correct expression used to suggest that something acts as a sign or signal. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While relatively infrequent, it appears in various contexts, including science, news and media. Related phrases include "act as a signal" and "function as a marker", which offer similar meanings. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure clarity about what is being indicated and to avoid overstating the strength of the indication when the evidence is weak. The phrase tends toward a more formal and scientific register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

act as a signal

This alternative uses "act" instead of "serve", and "signal" for "indication", slightly changing the verb and noun.

function as a marker

This alternative replaces "serve" with "function" and "indication" with "marker", suggesting a slightly more technical role.

work as a sign

This alternative uses "work" instead of "serve", offering a more informal tone.

provide a clue

This alternative shifts the meaning slightly to suggest offering a hint or piece of information.

give a lead

Similar to "provide a clue", this suggests guidance towards something.

offer evidence

This alternative emphasizes the aspect of providing proof or substantiation.

represent a symptom

This option is more specific, implying the indication is part of a larger problem or condition.

point to a likelihood

This alternative suggests that something makes a certain outcome more probable.

suggest the possibility

This alternative emphasizes that the indication implies a potential outcome or situation.

imply the presence of

This suggests that the indication suggests something exists.

FAQs

How can I use "serve as indication" in a sentence?

Use "serve as indication" to suggest that something acts as a sign or signal of something else. For example: "The increase in customer complaints can serve as indication of declining product quality."

What can I say instead of "serve as indication"?

You can use alternatives like "act as a signal", "function as a marker", or "work as a sign" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "serve as indication" or "serve as an indication"?

While both are grammatically correct, "serve as an indication" is more common when referring to a single instance. "Serve as indication" is suitable when referring to the general concept of providing a sign.

What's the difference between "serve as indication" and "serve as evidence"?

"Serve as indication" suggests something points to a possibility or situation, while "serve as evidence" implies stronger proof or support for a claim.