serving as notice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serving as notice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that something is intended to inform or alert someone about a particular matter. Example: "This letter is serving as notice of your upcoming appointment scheduled for next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

And while we're on the subject: let Canada's calm, cool dismantling of the Americans last night serve as notice to those who believe that agitators should take the place of skilled players in a tournament.

The Guardian - Sport

If and when she is finally ousted, it should serve as notice to anybody who would succeed her, or anyone else in the administration, that fealty is a necessary but not sufficient part of the job.

The Washington Post

On a team that as recently as last season was trading away its veteran players for groups of minor leaguers, Anderson's deal last week, which will carry him through his arbitration years and one year of free agency, may serve as notice that Oakland is ready to reassert itself as a contender.

The New York Times - Sports

The flitting visual image of a rugged Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, saluting with his right hand to the wide brim of his Stetson hat, serves as notice that two squads of bristly roughnecks are ready to whack each other around on the ice.

The New York Times

U.A.N.I., which gave Standard Chartered a clean bill of health in May after it pulled out of Iran, returned to the attack on Monday by saying the penalties the bank now faced in the light of the latest allegations "should serve as notice to all entities and financial institutions that they will be held accountable for their business with such an unscrupulous regime".

The New York Times

Richards believes his suspension will serve as notice to others.

BBC

This letter serves as notice of termination of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement (the "iDP Agreement") and the Registered iPhone Developer Agreement (the "Registered Developer Agreement") between you and Apple, effective immediately.

TechCrunch

The letter serves as notice about the trademark application, saying that there are "more than 100 mobile "prpperties  [sic] offered in the App Store for sale and for free download" and, after receipt of this notice, they "clearly manifest a scheme of deliberate and/or willful infringement of the UAI trademark".

TechCrunch

The transmittal letter, Feinstein suggests, should have served as notice that the disclosure had taken place.

Huffington Post

This notification also serves as notice for other apps in your catalog.

Huffington Post

Today's filing should serve as notice that they will vigorously defend their rights when forced to do so".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serving as notice", ensure the context clearly states what the notice is about and who it is intended for, enhancing clarity and preventing misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "serving as notice" in informal conversations or casual writing. It's best suited for official announcements, legal documents, or formal communications where a clear and unambiguous message is crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serving as notice" functions as a predicative phrase, indicating that something is fulfilling the role of an official notification or warning. This is supported by Ludwig, which identifies the phrase as grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serving as notice" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that indicates something is functioning as an official notification or warning. According to Ludwig, it's widely applied across diverse sources, particularly in news, academic, and business contexts. The phrase is best suited for formal communications, legal documents, or official announcements where a clear and unambiguous message is required. While synonyms like "acting as a warning" or "giving notice" exist, "serving as notice" carries a specific connotation of formality and officialdom. Therefore, understanding the context is crucial for its effective use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

giving notice

A more direct way of saying that an announcement is being made.

acting as a warning

Emphasizes the cautionary aspect, highlighting a potential negative consequence.

acting to forewarn

Specifically emphasizes the act of warning someone in advance.

functioning as an alert

Focuses on the role of something in drawing attention to a specific issue or situation.

serving to inform

Highlights the provision of information but is less forceful than the original phrase.

constituting a notification

Highlights the formal and official character of the announcement or communication.

providing an indication

Implies a subtle hint or clue rather than a direct statement.

offering an advisory

Suggests guidance or recommendation being provided, not necessarily a warning.

working as a signal

Emphasizes the role of something in conveying information, often non-verbally.

standing as a reminder

Highlights the function of jogging someone's memory about something important.

FAQs

How can I use "serving as notice" in a sentence?

You can use "serving as notice" to introduce important information or warnings. For example, "This letter is "serving as notice" of your upcoming appointment next week" or "The red flag is "serving as notice" of dangerous swimming conditions".

What are some alternatives to "serving as notice"?

You can use alternatives like "acting as a warning", "constituting a notification", or "giving notice" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "serving as notice"?

"Serving as notice" is suitable for formal contexts, such as legal documents, official announcements, or when conveying important information that requires attention. It's less appropriate for casual conversation.

Is "serving as notice" the same as "giving notice"?

While similar, "giving notice" is a more direct way of saying that an announcement is being made. "Serving as notice" often implies that the thing itself is the announcement or warning.