clerical manpower

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clerical manpower" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the workforce or personnel involved in clerical tasks or administrative duties. Example: "The company is looking to increase its clerical manpower to handle the growing volume of paperwork."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Firm with big mailing lists & a shortage of clerical manpower have been invited to turn their lists over to their local P. O. & have the zone numbers added on by postal clerks.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Manpower has done quite well providing everything from clerical to infotech help for growing businesses.

Forbes

Manpower man has done quite well providing everything from clerical to infotech help for growing businesses.

Forbes

"Manpower is a treasure".

The New York Times

States manpower directrix.

The New Yorker

Computers displaced clerical workers.

The New York Times

But clerical staff?

Independent

"Not enough manpower".

The New York Times

"Manpower is not the problem.

The New York Times

Mr. Stringer lacks such manpower.

The New York Times

The manpower shortage, Life explained.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more modern and inclusive terms like "clerical staff" or "administrative personnel" instead of "clerical manpower" to avoid outdated or gendered language.

Common error

While "clerical manpower" is grammatically correct, it might sound antiquated. Opt for alternatives like "clerical staff" to make your writing more contemporary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clerical manpower" functions as a noun phrase, specifically identifying the personnel or workforce responsible for performing clerical duties. Ludwig confirms that this is grammatically correct, though potentially dated, as illustrated by the example in the first snippet.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clerical manpower" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote the workforce involved in clerical duties. However, Ludwig suggests that it is an older expression, and more contemporary and inclusive alternatives such as "clerical staff" or "administrative personnel" are often preferred. The phrase appears mostly in News & Media, Encyclopedia, and Science contexts. While correct, be mindful of the potential for the phrase to sound outdated in modern usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

administrative staff

Replaces "manpower" with the more modern and gender-neutral term "staff", focusing on administrative duties.

clerical staff

Similar to "administrative staff" but specifically highlights the clerical nature of the work.

office personnel

Broad term encompassing all personnel working in an office environment, including clerical roles.

support staff

Emphasizes the supporting role of the staff in relation to other functions.

administrative workforce

Focuses on the entire workforce engaged in administrative tasks, maintaining a formal tone.

clerical workforce

Similar to "administrative workforce" but with a focus on clerical tasks.

office workforce

Captures everyone who works in the office.

administrative resources

Focuses on the resources aspect of administrative operations.

human resources for clerical duties

A more descriptive and formal way of referring to the personnel involved in clerical tasks.

personnel for clerical work

Similar to the previous option but slightly less formal.

FAQs

What does "clerical manpower" mean?

The term "clerical manpower" refers to the workforce or personnel involved in clerical tasks such as data entry, record-keeping, and other administrative duties.

What can I say instead of "clerical manpower"?

You can use alternatives like "clerical staff", "administrative personnel", or "office staff" depending on the context.

Is "clerical manpower" an outdated term?

While grammatically correct, "clerical manpower" may be considered an older term. Using phrases like "clerical staff" or "administrative personnel" is often preferred in modern writing.

How to use "clerical manpower" in a sentence?

Example: "The firm needed to increase its "clerical manpower" to handle the large volume of paperwork."