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Twistedthistle Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
would be better served
Hi everyone,
I've been having a bit of trouble with the phrase "would be better served"- In this example: "Jameer Nelson [...] would be better served as a backup point guard as he’s now entering his 10th year in the league." the phrase seems to mean "would be better used/employed", however, if one were to use the word "serve", surely the correct phrasing would be " Jameer Nelson [...] would serve better as a backup point guard" rather than making the phrase passive for some reason (be better served).
Can anyone help me with this confusion? Is the phrase "would be better served" somehow idiomatic? Or is it simply used incorrectly here?
Similarly with the news headline; "New York would be better served building casinos near the city" - the phrase here seems to mean "would benefit more from". But in this headline: "Jeremy Lin Would Be Better Served Coming Off Rockets Bench Next Season" it seems to mean "would be better used/employed" as in my first example.
With such differences, is there any consensus as to the correct use/meaning of this phrase?
Thank you for your help,
Best
TT
I've been having a bit of trouble with the phrase "would be better served"- In this example: "Jameer Nelson [...] would be better served as a backup point guard as he’s now entering his 10th year in the league." the phrase seems to mean "would be better used/employed", however, if one were to use the word "serve", surely the correct phrasing would be " Jameer Nelson [...] would serve better as a backup point guard" rather than making the phrase passive for some reason (be better served).
Can anyone help me with this confusion? Is the phrase "would be better served" somehow idiomatic? Or is it simply used incorrectly here?
Similarly with the news headline; "New York would be better served building casinos near the city" - the phrase here seems to mean "would benefit more from". But in this headline: "Jeremy Lin Would Be Better Served Coming Off Rockets Bench Next Season" it seems to mean "would be better used/employed" as in my first example.
With such differences, is there any consensus as to the correct use/meaning of this phrase?
Thank you for your help,
Best
TT
Top answer
] would serve better as a backup point guard" rather than making the phrase passive for some reason (be better served). I agree. The set phrase has been slightly misused in that text.
- ] would serve better as a backup point guard" rather than making the phrase passive for some reason (be better served).
- I agree.
- The set phrase has been slightly misused in that text.
- e.
- his career) as a backup point guard.
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4 Answers
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twistedthistle the phrase seems to mean "would be better used/employed", however, if one were to use the word "serve", surely the correct phrasing would be " Jameer Nelson [...] would serve better as a backup point guard" rather than making the phrase passive for some reason (be better served).I agree. The set phrase has been slightly misused in that text.
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Hi Mister Micawber, thanks for your reply. What would your thoughts be then on my final example, "Jeremy Lin would be better served coming off Rockets bench next season"?
Would you say that this was misused too? To be honest, i'm not 100% certain by what is meant by this headline.
Would it be fair to say that the default/correct meaning of the phrase should be "would benefit more (from/wi
Would you say that this was misused too? To be honest, i'm not 100% certain by what is meant by this headline.
Would it be fair to say that the default/correct meaning of the phrase should be "would benefit more (from/wi
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twistedthistle"Jeremy Lin would be better served coming off Rockets bench next season"?Would you say that this was misused too?I think it makes the careful reader confused, that is all.
twistedthistleWould it be fair to say that the default/correct meaning of the phrase should be "would benefit more (from/with)" or "Would be aided more
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