serving me with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serving me with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of delivering or providing something, often in a legal or formal context. Example: "The court is serving me with the necessary documents for the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And, after long meaning to, I'm finally pitching into an Icelandic masterpiece novel, "World Light," by Halldór Laxness — it is cruelly comic, serving me with a timely lesson that the bad, once on track, can hardly help getting worse, but that intermittent auroras of eerie joy mustn't be ruled out, even then.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

(A marshal served me with a subpoena in physiology class).

The New Yorker

One day at the gallery, John had me served me with divorce papers.

The New York Times

"I turned around and an F.B.I. agent was there and served me with the subpoena".

The New York Times

Dave, our bass player, actually served me with papers at our last gig, last week.

The New Yorker

I'm thankful to Frank for running back into the kitchen to get that novelty turkey spoon to serve me with, like I wasn't already everybody's monkey in a sailor suit.

The New Yorker

My legal saga started last summer with a knock at the door, behind which stood two federal agents ready to to serve me with a court order requiring the installation of surveillance equipment on my company's network.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I wanted to coach and my undergraduate degree was in P.R., so I figured a master's in communication, journalism, would serve me with regard to getting with the media, alumni, boosters and what have you," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

I think my church background served me with a sense of guilt so I envied friends who seemed so confident at sexually adventurous acts I'd never even heard of.

The Guardian - Opinion

My husband served me with divorce papers.

Science Magazine

"I've had people climb over the fence, come to my parties, try and fight me, just to serve me with papers, just to get stuff removed.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serving me with" in legal contexts, ensure the subject is clearly defined (e.g., "The officer is serving me with a subpoena").

Common error

Avoid substituting "with" for other prepositions. "Serving me by" or "serving me for" alters the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serving me with" functions as a verb phrase where "serving" is in its gerund form, indicating an action being performed on the speaker. It describes the act of someone delivering or providing something, often in a legal or official capacity, which is consistent with Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serving me with" is grammatically correct and usable in written English, predominantly in contexts involving the formal delivery of documents or information, as Ludwig confirms. While not exceedingly common, it is understood, particularly in legal or official settings. Alternatives like "providing me with" or "delivering to me" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. Remember to use "with" and avoid other prepositions. Examples are drawn from reputable news sources demonstrating practical usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

providing me with

Focuses on the act of giving or supplying something.

delivering to me

Emphasizes the act of bringing something to a specific location or person.

furnishing me with

Implies supplying something necessary or useful.

supplying me with

Highlights the act of providing something that is needed.

issuing to me

Suggests an official or formal distribution.

presenting to me

Focuses on the act of formally offering or showing something.

handing over to me

Implies a transfer of possession or responsibility.

administering to me

Suggests a formal process of giving or applying something.

bestowing upon me

Indicates a conferral of something as a gift or honor.

granting me

Focuses on the act of formally giving or allowing something.

FAQs

What does "serving me with" mean?

The phrase "serving me with" generally indicates the act of formally delivering or providing something to someone, especially legal documents or official notices. It suggests an official or formal context.

What can I say instead of "serving me with"?

You can use alternatives like "providing me with", "delivering to me", or "issuing to me" depending on the specific context.

Is "serving me with" formal or informal?

The phrase "serving me with" leans towards formality, especially when used in relation to legal or official procedures. In more casual contexts, phrases like "giving me" or "providing me" may be more appropriate.

Can "serving me with" be used in non-legal contexts?

While commonly associated with legal contexts, "serving me with" can be used more broadly to indicate providing something formally or deliberately. However, ensure the context warrants the level of formality; otherwise, simpler alternatives might be better.