serving in the capacity of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serving in the capacity of" is correct and can be used in both spoken and written English.
It is used when referring to someone's official role or job. For example: "The mayor is serving in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer of the town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Rosenstein was merely serving in the capacity of Acting Attorney General for the limited purpose of allowing Jeff Sessions, the official Attorney General for all other purposes, to recuse himself from any matters arising from the presidential campaign.

Forbes

Even volunteers who aren't handling returns but serving in the capacity of greeters and receptionists must pass a test on ethics and confidentiality.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

At approximately 9.00pm I was asked by the President to serve in the capacity of Acting Attorney General.

The Guardian

The training described in this subparagraph shall not be required, but is recommended, for a tribal governing body that serves in the capacity of a school board.

Cornell University

In addition, The New York Times asked the State Department to provide the titles and job descriptions of other individuals the department has permitted to serve in the capacity of special government employee, and whether any of Mrs. Clinton's other political appointees were given the special designation.

The New York Times

At approximately 9 00 p.m., I was asked by the President to serve in the capacity of Acting Attorney General.

Huffington Post

She was appointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute f Standards and Technology to serve in the capacity of Examiner on the 2004 Board of Examiners of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Huffington Post

While I will no longer serve in the capacity of president of College Democrats, I'm excited to announce that I will continue to serve the Democratic Party as a Fellow in the DNC's Voting Rights Institute.

Huffington Post

The New York Times asked the State Department to provide the titles and job descriptions of other individuals the department has permitted to serve in the capacity of special government employee, and whether any of Mrs. Clinton's other political appointees were given the special designation.

Huffington Post

From February 1998 through September 2000 he served in the capacity of president for retail operations with Adidas America.

Bplans

For example, M. tuberculosis TrHbN and T. pyriformis TrHb1 are both likely to serve in the capacity of NO detoxifiers.

Biochemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serving in the capacity of", ensure the context clearly defines the specific role or function being performed. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures your meaning is clearly understood.

Common error

Avoid using "serving in the capacity of" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "acting as" or "working as" are often more appropriate and natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serving in the capacity of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, typically indicating the role or function someone is performing. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and appropriate for formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serving in the capacity of" is a grammatically sound and formal way to describe someone's role or function. As Ludwig AI points out, it's best suited for professional, academic, or news-related contexts and less appropriate for casual conversation. While alternatives like "acting as" exist, this specific phrase offers a level of formality and precision useful in official communications. The frequency of its usage is uncommon, as evidenced by the relatively limited number of examples. However, when employed correctly, it adds clarity and authority to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acting as

This alternative uses a simpler verb and preposition to convey the role being performed.

functioning as

This alternative focuses on the functional aspect of the role.

performing the duties of

This alternative emphasizes the responsibilities associated with the role.

undertaking the role of

This alternative highlights the act of assuming the role.

fulfilling the position of

This alternative stresses the formal aspect of the role or job.

holding the post of

This alternative focuses on the occupation of a specific position.

officiating as

This alternative is suitable for formal or ceremonial roles.

working as

This alternative is a general way to describe employment.

exercising the function of

This alternative emphasizes the active use of authority or abilities within the role.

representing as

This alternative refers to acting on behalf of someone or something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "serving in the capacity of"?

You can use alternatives such as "acting as", "functioning as", or "performing the duties of" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "serving in the capacity of" and "acting as"?

"Serving in the capacity of" is generally more formal. "Acting as" is a simpler and more versatile alternative suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Is it correct to say "serve in the capacity of"?

Yes, "serve in the capacity of" is grammatically correct. The phrase indicates that someone is performing a specific role or function.

In what situations is "serving in the capacity of" most appropriate?

This phrase is most appropriate in formal writing or speech when you need to clearly and precisely define someone's role, especially in professional or official settings.