a waste of manpower

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a waste of manpower" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that is considered inefficient or unproductive in terms of human resources. Example: "The project was deemed a waste of manpower, as it did not yield any significant results despite the team's efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"It's also a waste of manpower.

Independent

The police procedure was labeled a waste of manpower and a distortion of priorities by some people here.

The New York Times

Yang points out that, since these projects "were undertaken with an unscientific approach, many were a waste of manpower and resources".

The New Yorker

But hanging around for hours in a plane is a waste of manpower".Mad as a kiteUnmanned flying machines go back a long way.

The Economist

The border with Iran is so long and porous that British forces do not even station inspectors at the main border crossings because they consider it a waste of manpower.

The New York Times

"I don't think STAP cells exist and it will be a waste of manpower and research funding to carry on with this experiment any further," Lee wrote on his ResearchGate page yesterday.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

As a result, in a total waste of manpower, the Secret Service kept her car under surveillance so agents could follow her," he writes, according to a New York Post preview.

Huffington Post

The surveillance demonstrates "an absolute waste of manpower in time of war," Mr. Stephan said in a telephone interview.

The New York Times - Books

If we manually modify the Hadoop and HBase file configuration, it is not only a waste of time and manpower, but also has high error rate in the process of modifying the configuration, so we use shell scripts in the form of cluster nodes for dynamic updating.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Despite Iran's reported warning to Israel through the U.S. that "the Zionist regime should await the consequences of their act... .. and that it has "crossed our red lines," the rulers in Tehran would likely see a serious escalation as a waste of weapons and manpower at present.

Huffington Post

But on that day in May, it worked out that a shutdown entailed little waste of manpower.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a waste of manpower", consider quantifying the waste by specifying the amount of time or number of personnel involved to add impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a waste of manpower" when referring to resources beyond human labor. Instead, use broader terms like "a waste of resources" if the inefficiency involves materials, equipment, and time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a waste of manpower" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a situation or activity characterized by the inefficient or unproductive use of human labor. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a waste of manpower" is a noun phrase used to express disapproval of inefficient human resource allocation. Ludwig's analysis shows the phrase is grammatically sound and mostly used in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While generally appropriate for neutral to professional settings, it is essential to consider the specific context to ensure its accurate application. Remember to quantify the waste and avoid applying the phrase to non-human resources. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and provides valuable context for its use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inefficient use of personnel

Replaces "waste" with "inefficient use" and "manpower" with the more formal "personnel".

misallocation of human resources

Focuses on the incorrect assignment of human resources, highlighting the strategic error.

squandering of labor

Emphasizes the careless and extravagant loss of labor.

unproductive deployment of staff

Highlights the lack of productivity resulting from the way staff are used.

underutilization of workforce

Suggests the workforce's potential is not being fully exploited.

ineffective staffing

Points out the ineffectiveness of the staffing arrangements.

poor resource allocation

Focuses on the inadequate distribution of resources, including manpower.

misuse of human capital

Treats manpower as "human capital", suggesting an asset is being misused.

frivolous use of employees

Implies that employees are being used in a trivial or unimportant manner.

unjustified personnel expenditure

Highlights that the spending or use of personnel is not justified or reasonable.

FAQs

How can I use "a waste of manpower" in a sentence?

You can use "a waste of manpower" to describe situations where human resources are used inefficiently. For example, "Assigning five officers to monitor a quiet street is "a waste of manpower" when their skills could be better utilized elsewhere."

What are some alternatives to saying "a waste of manpower"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "inefficient use of personnel", "misallocation of human resources", or "underutilization of workforce".

Is it better to say "a waste of manpower" or "a waste of resources"?

The best choice depends on what you're referring to. Use "a waste of manpower" when specifically discussing the inefficient use of human labor. If you're referring to a broader range of resources, including materials and equipment, use "a waste of resources".

What is the difference between "a shortage of manpower" and "a waste of manpower"?

"A shortage of manpower" indicates a lack of available personnel, while ""a waste of manpower"" refers to the inefficient or unproductive use of existing personnel.