serve as useful reference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serve as useful reference" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to refer to an object or source of information that has been helpful in the past, or is likely to be helpful in the future. For example, "The dictionary serves as a useful reference when looking up unfamiliar words."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The TTT model could better the science learning experience of preservice teachers and serve as useful reference for other teacher education institutes.

Computers & Education

The findings of this study could also serve as useful reference for the development of future policies on the promotion of organic food in general, and organic vegetables in particular, by the decision makers of the Government of Thailand.

Agricultural and Food Economics

We organize results into protein-wide escape maps illustrating the sites and pathways of immune-driven viral evolution, and hope that these maps will serve as useful reference material for researchers interested in CTL epitope discovery, host-pathogen co-evolution, and HIV vaccine design.

Plosone

The baseline values in this paper serve as useful reference for ADHD specialists and may assist clinical decision making with regard to determination of rhythm abnormality.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

In conclusion, those transcriptomic profiling generated in these studies will likely serve as useful reference data for industrial strain development at the level of systems biology in the future.

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The availability of information on whole-genome 454 assembled gene sequences of Chinese spring [ 58] and gene-orthologies among the said wheat and Brachypodium chromosomes established using 5003 ESTs mapped to wheat deletion bins [ 32] will serve as useful references to complement our efforts.

BMC Plant Biology

The presented meaningful results could serve as useful references in the application and design of lithium batteries, nano sensors, and other micro or nano-devices based on laminated graphene sheets.

International Journal of Mechanical Sciences

The best characterized legume genomes are those of the model plants Lotus and Medicago, which thus serve as useful references for comparison with Arachis.

BMC Plant Biology

These physical products have also served as useful reference points for the company's methods and digital aesthetic.

The New Yorker

Overall, we hope that the work of this paper can be served as useful reference for the trade-off between security and performance for further implementation in resource-constrained environments.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

However, Canada and Australia serve as useful analogues.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serve as useful reference", ensure the subject clearly provides informational value or guidance within the context. Avoid vague subjects or contexts where the reference's utility isn't apparent.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating how "useful" the reference is. If it only offers marginal help, consider using less emphatic language or specifying the limitations of its usefulness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serve as useful reference" functions as a predicate nominative, linking the subject to a noun phrase that describes or renames it. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "serve as useful reference" is a grammatically correct and reasonably common expression used to describe something that provides helpful information or guidance. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for use in written English. It appears most frequently in scientific and technical contexts, often within academic papers and research articles. Alternatives include "act as a useful reference" or "provide a valuable reference", depending on the desired nuance. It's crucial to use this phrase when the subject genuinely offers substantial informational value and to avoid overstating its utility. The majority of examples are sourced from scientific publications, confirming its suitability for formal and technical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

act as a useful reference

Replaces "serve" with "act", a direct synonym, keeping the rest of the phrase intact.

function as a useful reference

Substitutes "serve" with "function", emphasizing the role or purpose.

serve as a valuable reference

Replaces "useful" with "valuable", intensifying the importance of the reference.

serve as a helpful reference

Substitutes "useful" with "helpful", making it slightly more conversational.

provide a useful reference

Shifts the focus to the act of providing, changing the verb and article.

serve as a resource

Broadens the scope from a specific "reference" to a general "resource".

serve as a guide

Narrows the scope to a "guide", suggesting specific directional assistance.

be a useful point of reference

Adds "point of", subtly changing the focus to a specific data.

offer a useful reference

Similar to "provide", but with a slightly more formal tone.

can be consulted as a reference

Changes the phrase to indicate potential use as reference material.

FAQs

How can I use "serve as useful reference" in a sentence?

You can use "serve as useful reference" to describe something that provides helpful information or guidance, such as "This manual "serves as a useful reference" for troubleshooting common problems."

What are some alternatives to "serve as useful reference"?

Alternatives include "act as a "useful guide"", "provide a "valuable reference"", or "function as a "helpful resource"", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "serve as a reference" or "serve as a useful reference"?

While "serve as a reference" is grammatically correct, adding "useful" emphasizes the practical value and helpfulness of the reference, making it more descriptive and informative.

What's the difference between "serve as a useful reference" and "serve as a useful tool"?

"Serve as a useful reference" implies providing information or guidance, while "serve as a "useful tool"" suggests functionality or assistance in completing a task. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing informational value or practical application.