Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

man's burden
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Alternative expressions(8)

moral responsibility

ethical obligation

social duty

social responsibility

ethical duty

moral obligation

weight of responsibility

ease man

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

CALL it Democratic Man's Burden.

News & Media

The New York Times

"Development is the biggest white man's burden.

News & Media

The Guardian

"They don't feel the white man's burden issue.

News & Media

The Guardian

The "white man's burden" is not history; it is ancient history.

News & Media

The New York Times

This is just one more example of "white man's burden" imperialism.

News & Media

The New York Times

The Brick Maker Imperialism used to be the white man's burden.

News & Media

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

It summons up a blimpish, condescending, epic-heroic, white-man's-burden patriotism: not only jingoism but jingleism too.

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

Rudyard Kipling wrote "The White Man's Burden" as a means of describing the "burden" of dealing with people of color as this nation continued its imperialistic trajectory.

News & Media

HuffPost

I've read The White Man's Burden – and wondered whether he's joking or not.

News & Media

The Guardian - Books

It's not that simple, William Easterly argues in "The White Man's Burden". Take those mosquito nets.

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

One was "White Man's Burden," the infamous Rudyard Kipling poem that crystallized the colonialist mind-set.

News & Media

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using the phrase in political or social commentary to highlight the perceived (and often criticized) duty that powerful entities feel toward developing nations.

Common error

Avoid using "man's burden" in a purely positive or unironic sense without acknowledging its history. Because it is inextricably linked to the defense of 19th-century imperialism and white supremacy, modern usage typically requires a critical or self-aware tone to avoid appearing to endorse outdated colonial ideologies.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "man's burden" acts as a noun phrase consisting of a possessive noun and a head noun. In most instances found in Ludwig, it functions as a metaphorical label for a complex set of duties or perceived moral imperatives.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

Less common in

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "man's burden" is a highly evocative phrase that carries significant historical and rhetorical weight. According to Ludwig AI analysis, it is most frequently used as an allusion to the colonial era, often to critique modern forms of paternalism or intervention. While it is grammatically simple, its usage is complex, appearing primarily in high-level journalism and academic discourse. Writers should use it intentionally, recognizing that it almost always invokes the historical context of the "white man's burden", even when modified to describe other social or economic obligations. When seeking more objective alternatives, consider terms like "social responsibility" or "ethical duty".

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

white man's burden

Direct historical allusion to Kipling's original poem regarding imperial expansion.

moral obligation

Generalizes the sense of duty to an ethical or philosophical level.

civilizing mission

Focuses on the colonial ideology often associated with the original phrase.

imperial responsibility

Refers specifically to the duty felt by a governing power over its territories.

weight of responsibility

Emphasizes the psychological or emotional load of a significant duty.

paternalistic duty

Highlights the condescending or 'fatherly' nature of the perceived burden.

global responsibility

A more modern, neutral way to describe international aid or intervention.

ethical duty

Places the burden within the framework of moral philosophy.

social weight

Refers to the societal pressures or obligations one carries.

inherited obligation

Suggests a duty passed down through history or generations.

FAQs

What does the phrase "man's burden" usually refer to?

It is most commonly an allusion to the "white man's burden", a concept originating from Rudyard Kipling's 1899 poem that justified imperialism as a moral duty.

Can I use "man's burden" in a modern context?

Yes, but it is often adapted to describe different types of perceived duties, such as the "rich man's burden" or "academic man's burden", usually to critique or highlight specific responsibilities.

What is a more neutral way to say "man's burden"?

Depending on your intent, you could use phrases like "moral responsibility", "ethical obligation", or "social duty".

Is "man's burden" considered offensive?

While the phrase itself is a literary allusion, the underlying ideology of the "civilizing mission" it represents is widely viewed as paternalistic and racist in contemporary discourse.

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Continue with Googlefor free

Continue with emailfor free

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

1-200 1k 2k 3k 4k 5k 7k 10k 20k 40k 100k 200k 500k 0m-3 0m-4 1m-1 1m-2 1m-3 1m-4

man's burdenGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

man's burden
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples