a burden on humanity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a burden on humanity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is considered a significant disadvantage or hardship affecting people as a whole. Example: "Pollution has become a burden on humanity, impacting health and the environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Cancer is a burden on humanity and among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with ~14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths in 2012 (1).

Carcinogenesis

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Autoimmune diseases exert a large burden on humanity.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

In any event, the hope is that these new insights into innate immunity will ultimately translate into better therapies for inflammatory arthropathies that continue to represent a major burden on humanity.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

"This is a much bigger danger than the executions", he said, "because many of [those sentenced to death] are aged, yesterday's leaders, who committed crimes against humanity in 1971, and are now thought to be more of a burden on the post-1971 pactivistsvists".

Vice

It was a burden on us.

The New York Times

Are deficits a "burden on future generations?

Princeton University

"It will be a burden on Iraqis".

The New York Times

"It becomes a burden on the taxpayers.

The New Yorker

Inaction imposes a burden on consumers.

The New York Times

They're a burden on the resources".

The New York Times

It's a burden on the army.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a burden on humanity", ensure the context clearly specifies what is causing the burden and how it affects people globally. Provide specific examples to strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "a burden on humanity" without providing concrete evidence or specific examples. Vague statements weaken the impact of your message. Instead of simply stating something is a burden, explain why and how it negatively affects humanity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a burden on humanity" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or an object in a sentence. It identifies something as imposing hardship or difficulty on all people. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in conveying negative global impacts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a burden on humanity" is a grammatically sound and semantically rich expression used to describe significant global challenges. While Ludwig AI marks it as "correct", its relative infrequency suggests it should be used thoughtfully and precisely. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, the phrase conveys a sense of concern and the need for action. When employing this phrase, specify the burden and its effects to avoid vague generalizations. Alternatives like ""a weight on society"" or ""a strain on humankind"" offer nuanced options depending on the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a weight on civilization

Replaces "humanity" with "civilization", slightly broadening the scope of the impact.

a strain on humankind

Substitutes "burden" with "strain" and "humanity" with "humankind", conveying a sense of pressure or difficulty.

a cost to the world

Focuses on the global impact, replacing "humanity" with "the world" and "burden" with "cost".

a plague on society

Emphasizes the detrimental nature of the issue, using "plague" to convey a sense of widespread harm.

an impediment to progress

Shifts the focus to the hindering effect on advancement, replacing "burden" with "impediment".

a challenge for all people

Highlights the difficulty faced by everyone, using "challenge" to soften the negative connotation.

a responsibility for mankind

Changes the perspective to one of obligation, emphasizing the duty to address the issue.

an affliction of the human race

Uses stronger language to describe the suffering caused, replacing "burden" with "affliction".

a drag on human potential

Highlights the limiting effect on what humans can achieve, focusing on unrealized possibilities.

a detriment to global well-being

Emphasizes the harm to overall welfare, using "detriment" to convey a negative impact.

FAQs

How can I use "a burden on humanity" in a sentence?

You can use "a burden on humanity" to describe global issues like climate change, poverty, or disease. For example, "Climate change is "a burden on humanity", threatening resources and displacing communities."

What are some alternatives to saying "a burden on humanity"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a weight on society", "a strain on humankind", or "a cost to the world", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the burden on humanity" instead of "a burden on humanity"?

While both can be grammatically correct, "the burden on humanity" implies a specific, already defined burden, whereas "a burden on humanity" introduces a new or general burden. The choice depends on the context.

How does "a burden on humanity" differ from "a stain on humanity"?

"A burden on humanity" implies a hardship or difficulty, whereas "a stain on humanity" suggests a moral wrong or disgrace. They describe different types of negative impacts.