in order vs serial

in order

adj
  • In a sequence. 

  • In accordance with the procedural rules governing formal meetings of a deliberative body. 

  • Appropriate, worthwhile. 

  • Ready, prepared; orderly; tidy. 

adv
  • In sequence. 

  • Emphasizes that what follows immediately is the purpose of the preceding or the beyond. 

  • She stood in order to see over the crowd. / She stood to see over the crowd. 

serial

adj
  • Having to do with or arranged in a series. 

  • Of or relating to a grammatical aspect relating to an action that is habitual and ongoing. 

  • Published or produced in installments. 

  • Who performs a specified action or course of action repeatedly or regularly. 

noun
  • A work, such as a work of fiction, published in installments, often numbered and without a specified end. 

  • A unit of police officers equipped with shields to tackle a riot. 

  • A publication issued in successive parts, often numbered and with no predetermined end. 

  • A serial number, esp. one required to activate software. 

verb
  • to assign a serial number to (especially of aircraft) 

How often have the words in order and serial occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )