served as an interpreter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "served as an interpreter" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone's role or function in facilitating communication between parties who speak different languages. Example: "During the international conference, she served as an interpreter, ensuring that all participants could understand each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

He appears to have served as an interpreter for French and British military units.

The Guardian

After the 1944 Normandy landings, he served as an interpreter with the US army in France.

The Guardian

He served as an interpreter and taught for a few years before turning to writing full-time.

Britannica

He has served as an interpreter, chauffeur and real estate agent, among other things, since the two players arrived.

The New York Times - Sports

Upon returning to Korea after he was released from Japan, my grandfather served as an interpreter here for government officials.

The Telegraph

The department did not identify the fourth American killed, a civilian contractor who officials said served as an interpreter.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

The Karen cultural consultant is an independent, professional interpreter and Karen community liaison and served as a translator, interpreter and cultural consultant on this project.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

When Americans visit, she serves as an interpreter.

The New York Times

Mr. Huang, who had already secretly joined the Communist Party, agreed to serve as an interpreter.

The New York Times

He played a crucial role in the rescue, serving as an interpreter for divers.

The New York Times

Ms. Stark had recruited another newly arrived Syrian refugee to serve as an interpreter during labor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "served as an interpreter", clearly specify the context (e.g., "served as an interpreter during the negotiations") to provide a complete understanding of the role.

Common error

Avoid using "served as a translator" when the context involves spoken communication. "Interpreter" refers to oral communication, while "translator" is for written text. Use "served as an interpreter" to accurately describe facilitating spoken language conversion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "served as an interpreter" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the role or action performed by someone. Ludwig examples show it describing individuals facilitating communication between different languages, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

18%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "served as an interpreter" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe someone's role in facilitating communication between different languages. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correctness and widespread usage across news, encyclopedias, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to specify the context and differentiate between "interpreter" (spoken language) and "translator" (written language). Ludwig AI assesses its correctness and provides examples of usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acted as a translator

Replaces "interpreter" with "translator", emphasizing written translation but still conveys a similar meaning.

provided interpretation services

Formal alternative emphasizing the professional aspect of interpreting.

worked as a liaison

Focuses on the role of facilitating communication and understanding between different parties.

facilitated communication

Emphasizes the action of making communication easier, rather than the specific role.

performed interpreting duties

Highlights the duties and responsibilities associated with interpreting.

functioned as a communicator

Highlights the broader aspect of conveying messages effectively, not just language conversion.

conveyed meaning between languages

Focuses on the act of transferring meaning across different languages.

translated orally

Directly describes the process of oral translation.

bridged the language gap

Uses a metaphorical expression to describe the role of an interpreter.

assisted with language translation

Broad description of helping with language conversion.

FAQs

What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator?

An interpreter converts spoken language in real-time, while a translator converts written text from one language to another. Using "acted as a translator" implies working with written documents, while "served as an interpreter" indicates oral communication.

How can I use "served as an interpreter" in a sentence?

You can use "served as an interpreter" to describe someone's role in facilitating communication between people who speak different languages. For example, "She served as an interpreter during the international conference."

What are some alternatives to "served as an interpreter"?

Alternatives include "worked as a liaison", "facilitated communication", or "provided interpretation services", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "served as a translator" instead of "served as an interpreter"?

While both terms relate to language conversion, "translator" specifically refers to written language. Use "acted as a translator" when referring to written text and "served as an interpreter" for spoken communication to ensure accuracy.