serve to the ground

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serve to the ground" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a function or purpose related to the ground, but the wording is awkward and unclear. Example: "The roots of the tree serve to the ground by providing stability and nutrients."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Every ball, from the serve to the ground strokes, is being cranked with topspin.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Old Trafford underwent several expansions in the 1990s and 2000s, including the addition of extra tiers to the North, West and East Stands, which served to return the ground almost to its original capacity of 80,000.

Wikipedia

What precedes this nuclear punch serves to prepare the ground by means of a satellite related to the nucleus by 'evidence' or 'motivation'motivation

Functional Linguistics

Such an undertaking would serve to increase the atmosphere within the ground by containing the crowd's noise and focusing it onto the pitch, where the players would feel the full effects of a capacity crowd.

Wikipedia

The roots of a tree serve to anchor it to the ground and gather water and nutrients to transfer to all parts of the tree.

Wikipedia

This will also serve to move the conversation back to solid ground.

WikiHow

Comments like these not only go against everything our military stands for, but only serve to put our troops on the ground in increased danger.

Huffington Post

About an hour before you are ready to serve, use the ground beef to make either simple meatballs or more involved meatballs or tofu meatballs whatever you deem meatball perfection.

WikiHow

Even among feminist arguments in favor or abortion there are a diversity of views as to the grounds that serve to justify it.

SEP

As you approach the Aboriginal tent embassy on the Block in Redfern, inner city Sydney, you see the sacred fire burning within a large circle marked on the ground, serving to cleanse the area.

Vice

Yet as a Principle of Becoming, PSR serves to furnish the causes, or grounds, for why a real individual comes into actuality.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the purpose of something related to the physical earth, consider using more common and precise alternatives such as "contribute to the earth" or "benefit the soil" instead of "serve to the ground".

Common error

Avoid using "serve to the ground" as it can sound unnatural. Instead, opt for clearer and more direct language to convey the intended purpose, like "aids the soil" or "supports the earth".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serve to the ground" attempts to function as a connector indicating purpose or function. However, as indicated by Ludwig, the phrasing is awkward and uncommon, making it less effective in conveying its intended meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serve to the ground" is considered grammatically awkward and uncommon, as pointed out by Ludwig. While it attempts to convey a purpose or function related to the earth, clearer and more direct alternatives exist. Given its rarity and awkwardness, it's advisable to opt for phrases like "contribute to the earth" or "benefit the soil" to ensure better clarity and grammatical correctness. The limited examples available in Ludwig further underscore its infrequent and potentially confusing usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contribute to the earth

Replaces 'serve' with 'contribute' and uses 'earth' instead of 'ground' for a more general reference.

help the ground

Simplifies the phrase to a basic expression of assistance.

function for the land

Emphasizes the operational aspect with 'function' and uses 'land' as a synonym for 'ground'.

assist the ground

Replaces 'serve' with 'assist' for a more direct sense of aid.

work for the earth

Similar to 'contribute', but with a focus on active labor.

benefit the soil

Focuses on the positive impact, replacing 'serve' with 'benefit' and using 'soil' for a more specific reference.

be useful for the ground

Uses a more explicit expression of utility.

support the terrain

Highlights the supportive role, substituting 'serve' with 'support' and 'ground' with 'terrain'.

act in the ground's interest

Focuses on acting for the benefit of the ground.

be conducive to the ground

Emphasizes the quality of promoting or assisting the ground's condition.

FAQs

What does "serve to the ground" mean?

The phrase "serve to the ground" is grammatically awkward and not commonly used. It attempts to describe a function or purpose related to the earth but lacks clarity. Better alternatives include phrases like "contributes to the earth" or "benefits the soil".

How can I use a more grammatically correct phrase instead of "serve to the ground"?

You can use alternatives such as "contribute to the earth", "benefit the soil", or "support the terrain" depending on the context.

Is "serve to the ground" grammatically correct?

No, "serve to the ground" is not considered grammatically correct. The structure is awkward, and there are clearer, more common ways to express the intended meaning. It's better to use alternatives like "aids the soil" or "supports the earth".

What's the difference between "serve to the ground" and "contribute to the earth"?

"Serve to the ground" is an awkward and uncommon phrase, while "contribute to the earth" is more natural and grammatically sound. The latter clearly conveys the idea of providing a beneficial effect or support to the environment.