serve me with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serve me with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts to refer to the act of delivering legal documents or notices to someone. Example: "The court decided to serve me with the official notice regarding the upcoming hearing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I'm thankful to Frank for running back into the kitchen to get that novelty turkey spoon to serve me with, like I wasn't already everybody's monkey in a sailor suit.

The New Yorker

My legal saga started last summer with a knock at the door, behind which stood two federal agents ready to to serve me with a court order requiring the installation of surveillance equipment on my company's network.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I wanted to coach and my undergraduate degree was in P.R., so I figured a master's in communication, journalism, would serve me with regard to getting with the media, alumni, boosters and what have you," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

"I've had people climb over the fence, come to my parties, try and fight me, just to serve me with papers, just to get stuff removed.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

(A marshal served me with a subpoena in physiology class).

The New Yorker

One day at the gallery, John had me served me with divorce papers.

The New York Times

"I turned around and an F.B.I. agent was there and served me with the subpoena".

The New York Times

Dave, our bass player, actually served me with papers at our last gig, last week.

The New Yorker

I think my church background served me with a sense of guilt so I envied friends who seemed so confident at sexually adventurous acts I'd never even heard of.

The Guardian - Opinion

My husband served me with divorce papers.

Science Magazine

The RCMP served me with a production order and I'm already jaded with the world.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "serve me with" when referring to the formal delivery of legal documents or official notices. For more general contexts, consider alternatives like "provide me with" or "give me".

Common error

Avoid using "serve me with" in casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or even pretentious in settings where simpler language would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serve me with" functions as a verb phrase where 'serve' is the verb, 'me' is the indirect object, and 'with' introduces what is being delivered or provided. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, indicating its appropriateness in specific contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "serve me with" is grammatically correct but relatively uncommon, primarily appearing in formal and legal contexts. As Ludwig AI points out, it is used to denote the formal delivery of official documents or notices. While grammatically sound, it should be used judiciously, favoring simpler alternatives like "provide me with" in less formal settings. Ludwig examples show its prevalence in news and media sources, emphasizing its role in conveying official actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide me with

Focuses on the act of giving or supplying something necessary or desired.

deliver to me

Emphasizes the act of bringing or handing something over to the speaker.

supply me with

Highlights the act of providing a stock or quantity of something.

furnish me with

Highlights the act of equipping or supplying something that is needed.

send me

Focuses on dispatching something to the speaker.

present me with

Emphasizes the act of formally offering or introducing something.

hand me

Focuses on the simple act of giving something directly.

offer me

Emphasizes the willingness to provide something.

give to me

General term for transferring possession to the speaker.

administer to me

Highlights a formal or official process of providing something.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "serve me with"?

The phrase "serve me with" is most appropriate when referring to the formal delivery of legal documents, subpoenas, or official notices. It emphasizes the official nature of the delivery.

What can I say instead of "serve me with" in informal contexts?

In more casual settings, you can use alternatives such as "provide me with", "give me", or "deliver to me". These options are less formal and more suitable for everyday conversation.

Is "serve me with" grammatically correct?

Yes, "serve me with" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard verb-object-preposition structure. However, its formality makes it unsuitable for all contexts.

What's the difference between "serve me with" and "provide me with"?

"Serve me with" typically implies a formal or legal context, often involving the delivery of official documents. In contrast, "provide me with" is a more general phrase that can be used in a wider range of situations to indicate the act of supplying something.