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 quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

man made activities

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "man made activities" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "man-made activities." You can use it when referring to activities or processes that are created or influenced by human beings rather than occurring naturally.
Example: "The environmental impact of man-made activities is a growing concern for scientists and policymakers."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The potential contaminant in the drinking water was found to be NO3− which is mostly derived from the man made activities.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet many nature reserves are products of reclaiming man made activity and letting nature take its course, with a little help.

News & Media

BBC

The man made some classics.

News & Media

Independent

No one man made it.

Most of the man made structures are bluff bodies.

Evolution is a man made theory.

Some disasters are man made.

It is estimated the men made £1m from their activities over a seven-month period during 2006.

News & Media

Independent

How much money have media organisations (often run by powerful men) made from social media activity regarding the sexism of other powerful men, for instance?

man make him that hero.

But men made the difference.

News & Media

The Economist
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the term "man-made activities" or "human activities" for better grammatical correctness. While "man made activities" might be understood, using the hyphenated form or the alternative enhances clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Do not separate "man" and "made" when used as a compound adjective. Always use "man-made" with a hyphen to correctly modify a noun, such as "man-made activities", instead of incorrectly splitting it like "man made activities".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

3.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase, though grammatically questionable as noted by Ludwig AI, functions as a noun modifier, attempting to describe activities that originate from human actions. It aims to categorize actions based on their source, differentiating them from natural processes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

58%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "man made activities" is understandable, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "man-made activities". As an alternative, "human activities" is recommended for being gender-neutral and grammatically sound. This phrase attempts to categorize activities originating from human actions, but should be approached carefully by writers, always hyphenating the adjective ("man-made") and/or using a more standard form.

FAQs

What is the correct way to write "man made"?

The correct way to write it as a compound adjective is "man-made", with a hyphen. This form is used to describe something that is created or caused by humans, for example "man-made materials".

What are some alternatives to "man made activities"?

You can use alternatives like "human activities" or "anthropogenic activities" depending on the context. The phrase "human activities" is often preferred for general use.

Is "man-made" biased language?

The term "man-made" can be seen as gender-biased by some, as it implies that only men are involved in creating things. To avoid this bias, using gender-neutral terms such as "human-created", "human-made", or simply "human activities" is recommended.

What is the difference between "natural activities" and "man-made activities"?

"Natural activities" refer to processes or events that occur without human intervention, such as volcanic eruptions or weather patterns. "Man-made activities", on the other hand, are actions or processes that are caused or influenced by human beings. For example, deforestation is a "man made activity", while a forest fire started by lightning is a natural event.

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

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.

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

3.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: