a cheap labour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a cheap labour" is not correct in written English.
The correct form is "cheap labor" without the article "a" or "the" before "cheap labor." Example: "Many companies seek cheap labor to reduce their production costs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But the country could not afford to let go of a cheap labour force which was saving the population from starvation.

Independent

"Computers were expensive and using women to advertise them gave the appearance to managers that jobs involving computers are easy and can be done with a cheap labour force," explains technology historian Marie Hicks.

The Guardian

Since 1965, multinational companies have collaborated with the armed forces to seize land and exploit a cheap labour force too afraid to demand safe working conditions or a fair wage.

The Guardian - Opinion

They want to be somebody.' The dismantling of trade barriers in the Eighties was initially brought about by Western leaders with the aim of taking advantage of a cheap labour pool in far away places.

The Guardian - Business

These were regarded by the German states as a cheap labour reserve that could be used to fill labour force gaps.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

Experts view this target as ambitious to say the least, but the country has the right geology, a cheap labour market, far fewer regulatory obstacles and, so far, relatively little public opposition.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

By the end of the 20th century the globalization of the workforce had brought new challenges to the labour movement, effectively weakening collective bargaining in industries whose workers could be replaced by a cheaper labour force in a different part of the world.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If the transport costs were lower than the labour costs, then a cheap-labour alternative location was determined.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Once a least-transport-cost location had been established within the triangle, Weber attempted to determine a cheap-labour alternate location.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For over a century and a half cheap labour, damaged lives, a destroyed planet and polluted seas were all irrelevant when set against the need for profit.

The Guardian - Money

A vast, cheap labour force could go to work on road improvements, rainwater reservoirs, irrigation channels, dykes and community centres.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the article "a" before "cheap labor". The correct form is "cheap labor" or "inexpensive workforce".

Common error

Do not precede "cheap labor" with the article "a". Using "a" implies you are referring to a specific, singular instance of cheap labor, which is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "cheap labor" without an article.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cheap labour" functions as a noun phrase intended to describe a workforce or labor source with low costs. However, it's grammatically incorrect. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, the correct form is "cheap labor".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a cheap labour" appears in some contexts, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "cheap labor". Ludwig AI identifies this usage as an error, suggesting that you should omit the article "a". Alternative phrases include "inexpensive workforce" or "low-cost labor". The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts, aiming to describe cost-effective labor sources, but it's crucial to use the grammatically correct form for clarity and professionalism. Remember that when describing a general concept of low-cost labor, the article 'a' is not necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inexpensive labor

Replaces "cheap" with a synonym and removes the article.

low-cost workforce

Substitutes both words for alternatives that convey similar meaning.

affordable labor

Uses a different adjective to describe the labor cost.

budget-friendly labor

Emphasizes the cost-effectiveness.

economical labor

Highlights the frugality aspect.

cheap workforce

Removes the article.

low-wage labor

Focuses specifically on the wages paid.

cheap manpower

Replaces "labor" with "manpower".

a low-priced labor force

Uses a more descriptive and formal phrasing.

reduced-cost labor

Emphasizes that the cost has been lowered.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "a cheap labour"?

The correct way is to say "cheap labor" without the article "a". You can also use "inexpensive workforce" or "low-cost labor".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a cheap labour"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. The phrase should be "cheap labor" without the article. Ludwig AI identifies "a cheap labour" as incorrect.

How can I use "cheap labor" in a sentence?

Example: "Many companies seek cheap labor to reduce production costs." Alternatively, use "low-cost workforce" in a similar context.

What are some alternatives to "a cheap labour"?

You can use phrases such as "cheap workforce", "inexpensive labor", or "low-wage labor". Remember to omit the article "a".