served to be

USAGE SUMMARY

'served to be' is not a correct sentence in written English.
You can use the verb 'serve' to make a sentence. For example, 'He served in the military for 10 years.'.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"I can't even describe how I served to be honest, it wasn't good though," Williams said.

The New York Times - Sports

Molecular docking studies served to be an important tool for the study of binding of compounds with that of a COX-2 enzyme.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

She said that to help customers, Amazon and others would be well served to be clear about what time the sales start.

The New York Times - Tech

If so, it certainly served to be for the likes of Nick Drake, or Joni Mitchell, who later admitted to suffering from such a state throughout the writing of several of her most acclaimed albums.

The Guardian - Music

And we wished for more of the excellent biscotti (four served) to be dunked in an accompanying glass of Vin Santo, a rich sweet wine similar to Sauternes -- a terrific pairing.

The New York Times

This served to be a very important training ground for Samuelsson and other successful men and women in the industry.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

A natural footballer, his versatility would serve to be his undoing.

The Guardian - Sport

I offer that anecdote because it never serves to be dismissive of people's motivation.

The Guardian - Books

Ratmansky's ridiculousness, here, serves to be sublime and imbues this ballet with a delightful lightheartedness.

The Guardian

So sure-ly those who take risks de-serve to be prop-er-ly paid.

The Guardian

We expect the states, cities and counties we serve to be real, no-fooling-around partners".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "served to be" in formal writing. Opt for stronger and more direct verbs like "served as" or "proved to be" to enhance clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Using "served to be" often results from a misunderstanding of verb conjugations. Double-check your sentence structure and choose the correct form of the verb "to serve" that fits the context. "Served as" is often a better alternative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "served to be" attempts to describe the function or purpose of something. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's not considered correct English. The examples show attempts to use it in ways similar to "served as" or "proved to be".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "served to be" presents a challenge for writers. While it appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Instead of "served to be", consider alternatives like "served as", "proved to be", or "functioned as" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. The intended meaning often revolves around describing the role or function something fulfilled, particularly in a past context. To ensure effective communication, choose grammatically sound alternatives that precisely convey your intended message. Though some instances exist in News & Media and Scientific articles, it's essential to prioritize correct usage for professional and academic writing. Due to the grammatical issues, the frequency is uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proved to be

Indicates that something has shown itself to have certain qualities or characteristics. This changes the focus from intended purpose to demonstrated outcome.

functioned as

Focuses on the role or purpose that something fulfilled. The word choice provides a more descriptive version.

acted as

Highlights the performance of a specific role or duty. Changes the focus to the action performed.

helped to be

Emphasizes assistance in achieving a state. Changes the original meaning by adding the concept of aid or support.

contributed to be

Shows the contribution toward a specific outcome, giving an idea of supporting something.

was instrumental in

Highlights the crucial role something played in achieving a particular result. It changes the focus to essential importance.

played a part in

Indicates that something had some involvement or influence, though not necessarily a major one. It reduces the degree of influence.

was used to

Focuses on the utility or purpose for which something was employed, less about serving in a role.

was designed to be

Emphasizes the intention behind the creation or planning of something. The nuance is about original intent rather than actual service.

was intended to be

Like "was designed to be", it highlights intention or purpose. It removes the design component and focuses solely on intention.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use the verb "serve" in a sentence?

Use forms like "served as", "serves to", or "is used to" depending on the meaning you want to convey. "Served as" indicates a past role, "serves to" indicates a present purpose, and "is used to" indicates a common function.

Is "served to be" grammatically correct?

No, "served to be" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal English. It's better to use alternatives like "proved to be" or "functioned as".

When can I use "served to be"?

While some instances of "served to be" appear in writing, they are not considered standard English. It's advisable to avoid this phrase in formal or academic contexts.

What alternatives can I use instead of "served to be"?

Consider using phrases like "acted as", "helped to be", or "was instrumental in" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.