Are you being served?

A closely related construction is Smith serves as the President of Ruritania when you could just say Smith is the President of Ruritania [6]. Sometimes a president or a military officer is serving their country, but sometimes holding a government position is more of a way to be served by other people than to serve the needs of others. "Served as" is for milk crates and Velveeta: Along one wall, stacks of milk crates served as bookshelves or We were so poor that sometimes Velveeta served as dessert (or, perhaps, Velveeta was served as dessert, but that's another story).

Books penned created fathered brought into being written by people

Directors helming movies which garner accolades

This guy Garnered several Emmys, but most acclaimed television actors just receive them. [1]
Someone actually helming something

Violation of the above may make your fellow editors vomit.

See also[edit]