served her with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "served her with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that someone has been formally given legal documents or notices. Example: "The court served her with the divorce papers last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Mrs. Nesbitt shared her politics and her work ethic, and served her with single-minded loyalty.

The New Yorker

Finally he served her with eviction papers and let us out of our lease.

The New York Times - Magazine

In retrospect, Boy George thinks he should have "served her" with a proper beating.

The New Yorker

Vasco, stuffed behind the grand Formica counter, served her with pineapple Sumol and unsmiling vigilance.

The New Yorker

By its final half-hour, an audience of 8.4 million watched DeLisa Stiles, an Army Reserve captain whose husband served her with divorce papers while she was on the show, as she was crowned this season's winner.

The New York Times

Shortly after a visit to the couple's Northern California home in June, Mrs. Murdoch returned to New York to learn that Mr. Murdoch had served her with divorce papers, according to several people close to the couple who would not discuss their private matters for attribution.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

I serve her with a kiss.

The Guardian - Books

A whopping 30 million people watch him serve her with divorce papers on Christmas day.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Earlier this month, an assistant district attorney, John Moscow, told Judge Michael J. Obus of State Supreme Court in Manhattan that Ms. Valliere had resisted efforts to serve her with a subpoena.

The New York Times

Goddard, who has not been located by the court so it can serve her with a copy of the complaint, did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment.

The New York Times - Sports

The Village of Southampton responded by serving her with a $250 ticket.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "served her with" in legal contexts, ensure the subject is an authorized entity, such as a process server or law enforcement officer.

Common error

Avoid using "served her with" in contexts where you simply mean 'helped' or 'assisted'. "Served" in this context has a specific legal or formal connotation. For general assistance, use verbs like "helped her with" or "assisted her with".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "served her with" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the formal delivery of legal documents or official notices. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples, highlighting its role in describing legal processes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "served her with" is correctly used to indicate the formal delivery of legal documents or official notices. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources, demonstrating its role in reporting legal actions. The phrase maintains a neutral to professional register, suitable for conveying factual information. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the formal delivery of something, especially in legal contexts. If you want to express helping in general, use alternatives such as "helped her with" or "assisted her with".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presented her with

Emphasizes the act of formally giving something to someone.

delivered to her

Focuses on the act of transporting something to someone's possession.

provided her with

Highlights the act of supplying or making something available to someone.

issued her

Implies an official or authoritative act of providing something.

furnished her with

Similar to 'provided', but often used for more substantial or formal provisions.

handed her

A more informal way to describe giving something directly to someone.

filed against her

Similar to 'lodged against', specifically for legal documents or charges.

lodged against her

Indicates the formal filing of a complaint or charge against someone.

took action against her

Focuses on the act of initiating measures against someone.

acted toward her

A general way to describe behaving or acting in a certain way towards someone.

FAQs

What does "served her with" mean in a legal context?

In legal terms, "served her with" means that someone has been formally presented with legal documents, such as a subpoena, eviction notice, or divorce papers. It signifies an official notification.

What can I say instead of "served her with" in a legal context?

You could use alternatives like "delivered to her" or "issued her" to indicate the formal presentation of documents.

Is it correct to use "served her with" in informal situations?

While grammatically correct, "served her with" is typically reserved for formal or legal contexts. Using it in informal situations may sound overly formal or out of place.

What's the difference between "served her with" and "helped her with"?

"Served her with" implies a formal delivery of something, often legal documents. "Helped her with" indicates assistance or support. The two phrases have distinct meanings and should not be used interchangeably.