serves explaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serves explaining" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey the idea of something that is useful for the purpose of explanation, but it is not a conventional expression. Example: "This diagram serves explaining the complex process of photosynthesis."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I have arrived just in time for lunch – soup and cheese on toast – which she serves, explaining that she needs to get it out of the way before we talk, otherwise, once she starts discussing ideas, she's "inclined to forget to feed people".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Dan Bartlett, a spokesman for the Bush campaign, said: "Senator Lieberman would be better served explaining why America's in the midst of an education recession in the Clinton-Gore years.

The New York Times

"Rather than misconstruing our tax plan, Marco's time is probably better served explaining to voters why he continues to support amnesty and has recently tripled-down on offering in-state tuition for those who are here illegally," Frazier said.

The Guardian

"Under the [Defence] Act at the time we weren't supposed to serve," explains Mr Oakley, a Gundungurra man originally from the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.

BBC

Therefore, it serves to help explain why some parents and families adapt better than others.

BMC Pediatrics

When I order a coffee at the bar, the guy serving explains that while things get busier the closer to the weekend it is, footfall is heavy every morning.

Vice

Just as the Form of Equal is entirely equal and not at all unequal, and serves to explain equality in other things, so God is entirely one, not at all multiple, and explains the unity in other things.

SEP

This multiplicity of souls, it is held, serves to explain how human beings have the vital operations characteristic of plants and animals in addition to peculiarly human ones, and also explains the development of the fetus's vital functions.

SEP

Hence, in his notebooks, the drawing does not illustrate the text; rather, the text serves to explain the picture.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This hypothesis also serves to explain why gold is found clustered only in some places on Earth (but not everywhere).

The Guardian

The strength of this opposition serves to explain why the caliphs, a few decades later, abandoning their attempt at reorienting religious beliefs, returned to traditional dogma.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically awkward phrase "serves explaining", opt for clearer alternatives like "helps to explain" or "is useful for explaining" to ensure your writing is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid forcing the verb "serve" into a construction where it directly modifies "explaining". Instead, restructure the sentence to use a more common and accepted phrasing, such as "serves to explain" or "helps in explaining".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serves explaining" attempts to denote the function of something in providing an explanation. However, it is not a standard grammatical construction, as highlighted by Ludwig AI, which suggests it's grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serves explaining" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that the expression is not correct. Although the intent is to convey that something is useful for providing an explanation, it's better to use alternatives like "helps to explain" or "is useful for explaining". While sources like The Guardian and The New York Times are present among the examples, the grammatical incorrectness significantly impacts its overall suitability. It's important to prioritize grammatical accuracy and clarity in writing, and using more standard phrases ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

helps to explain

Replaces "serves" with the more common "helps", maintaining a similar meaning of aiding in explanation.

is useful for explaining

Explicitly states the usefulness of something for explanation, providing a clearer grammatical structure.

functions to explain

Uses "functions" to indicate the role of something in providing an explanation.

serves as an explanation of

Restructures the phrase to use "serves as" followed by "an explanation of".

provides an explanation for

Focuses on the act of providing an explanation.

elucidates

A single word alternative that means to make something clear or explain.

clarifies

A single word alternative that means to make something more understandable.

illuminates

A single word alternative suggesting that something sheds light on a topic.

is instrumental in explaining

Highlights the importance of something in the explanation process.

contributes to the explanation of

Indicates that something adds to or supports the explanation.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "serves explaining"?

You can use alternatives like "helps to explain", "is useful for explaining", or "functions to explain" depending on the context.

Is "serves explaining" grammatically correct?

No, "serves explaining" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "serves to explain" or "helps in explaining".

How can I use "helps to explain" in a sentence?

You can use "helps to explain" like this: "This model helps to explain the complex interactions between the variables".

What's the difference between "serves to explain" and "serves explaining"?

"Serves explaining" is grammatically incorrect, while "serves to explain" is a correct and more widely accepted way to express that something has the function of providing an explanation.