waitering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "waitering" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the act of serving food and drinks in a restaurant or similar establishment. Example: "After several years of waitering, she decided to pursue a career in culinary arts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

For many, it's more likely to be Tesco or Asda, though waitering can pay far better.

The Guardian - Money

Apart from a bit of waitering, West has never had a job beyond actor or director.

Independent

— Julia Moskin The Splendid Table: Illuminating thoughts about grilling, thawing, eating and waitering from the likes of Adam Perry Lang, Harold McGee and Pascale Le Draoulec.

The New York Times

"I took dance lessons near Carnegie Hall," said Ms. Neuringer, who now lives in the East Village and has supported herself doing "cater waitering" and freelance writing while auditioning for Cheese Nip commercials, among other things.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But just as many have aspirations away from the camera, and are drawn to cater-waitering, as it's called, for its flexible schedules, convivial workplaces and decent pay (about $20 to $25 an hour).

The New York Times

Laurent, the only waiter on duty, said: "We closed the club several times but people wanted it to come back".

The Guardian

Billablog On theguardian.com "'That really is a beautiful tomato and mozzarella salad,' [Stewart] intones solemnly to a bemused waiter".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There's a flamenco theme going on here – tables have polka-dot covers and the bearded waiter sports a frilly apron.

The Guardian - Travel

Furthermore, waiters should remember to serve the eldest or the most highly educated person first.

The Guardian

The waiters weren't too bothered: every afternoon they played cricket on the beach; every evening they kept one eye on the Indian Premier League on TV.

The Guardian - Travel

There are waiters and captains, servers, runners, water men, third-assistant rice spooners, coat-check dons.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the job or activity of serving customers at a table, "waitering" can be used as a noun. For clarity, consider using more common alternatives like "serving" or "working as a waiter".

Common error

While "waitering" is a valid word, it's less frequently used than other options. Overusing it may make your writing sound unnatural. Opt for common synonyms like "serving" or "working as a waiter" to maintain clarity and readability.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "waitering" is as a noun, referring to the occupation or activity of serving customers at a restaurant or similar establishment. Ludwig provides examples where it's used to describe someone's past work experience.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "waitering" functions as a noun, describing the activity or profession of serving customers. While grammatically sound, it is not as commonly used as alternatives like "serving" or "working as a waiter". Ludwig AI analysis, based on the provided examples, confirms its usage within news and media contexts. When writing, be mindful of the slightly uncommon nature of "waitering" and consider whether a more familiar synonym would improve clarity for your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

waiting tables

Focuses on the specific action of serving at tables.

working as a waiter

Specifies being employed as a waiter, emphasizing the employment aspect.

serving customers

Highlights the interaction with customers, a key part of the job.

being a server

This highlights the role of the person serving, instead of the activity.

table service

Focuses on the service provided at a table, specifically.

serving profession

This alternative focuses on the profession of serving, removing the specific focus on "waitering".

food service

This term broadens the scope to include any service related to food, not just table service.

restaurant work

This phrase refers to work performed in a restaurant, of which serving could be a component.

catering

Involves providing food and service for events, which is broader than just restaurant service.

hospitality industry

Encompasses the entire sector of services related to leisure and customer satisfaction, which is very broad.

FAQs

How can I use "waitering" in a sentence?

You can use "waitering" to describe the job of a waiter. For example, "After several years of "waitering", she decided to pursue a career in culinary arts."

What can I say instead of "waitering"?

You can use alternatives like "serving" or "working as a waiter" depending on the context.

Is "waitering" a common term?

While grammatically correct, "waitering" is not as commonly used as other synonyms like "serving" or "waiting tables".

What's the difference between "waitering" and "waiting tables"?

"Waitering" is a noun that refers to the work of a waiter. "Waiting tables" is a verb phrase that describes the act of serving customers at tables.