mass of mankind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mass of mankind" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the large population of human beings collectively, often in discussions about society, humanity, or global issues. Example: "The mass of mankind faces numerous challenges in the 21st century, including climate change and inequality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But there is no mass of mankind.

The New Yorker

Throughout history, dire poverty has been a basic condition of the mass of mankind.

The Economist

Alas, he was one of them, because of his ineradicable belief that the mass of mankind was too dense to see the inner light.

The New Yorker

"The Kid is one of those people who have made up the mass of mankind since the species first appeared on the plains of East Africa two or three million years ago," Mr. Banks writes.

The New York Times - Books

Perhaps she forgot Karamazov, that "beauty for the mass of mankind is found in Sodom... It is a terrible and an awful thing". Bruni may be enamoured of the architect of the edifice of France, but does she want, like Alyosha, "to found that edifice on its unavenged tears"?

The Guardian - Opinion

Toward the end of his life, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favoured few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

I took his words, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," literally and thought of myself as part of the masses of mankind that would follow.

Forbes

I took his words, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," literally and thought of myself as part of the masses of mankind that would be following.

Forbes

The two start off talking mass extinctions and the possibility of mankind being snuffed out of existence, waltz through shared reminiscences about favorite music and scenes from old video games.

Huffington Post

The Libyan people are now brothers of mankind.

The New York Times

This is the "plight of the human corpus," and I'm sure provides the answer that if the misery of mankind were revealed all together spontaneously, mass genocide might correspondently follow.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing broad societal trends or philosophical concepts, use "mass of mankind" to evoke a sense of collective humanity and shared experience.

Common error

Avoid using "mass of mankind" when referring to specific groups or individuals, as it can lead to overgeneralizations and a lack of nuanced understanding. Instead, consider more specific terms that accurately reflect the group you're discussing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mass of mankind" functions primarily as a noun phrase. As evidenced by Ludwig and its examples, it acts as a subject or object, representing the collective body of humanity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mass of mankind" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe humanity collectively. As Ludwig confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, including news, academic discussions, and general philosophical reflections. While alternatives like "humanity as a whole" or "the human population" exist, "mass of mankind" evokes a sense of shared human experience, making it particularly useful when discussing global challenges or collective destinies. However, it's crucial to avoid overgeneralization and use more specific terms when referring to particular groups.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

humanity as a whole

Emphasizes the completeness and unity of the human race, differing in its directness.

the human population

A more demographic and statistical way to refer to mankind, varying in its focus.

the generality of humankind

Stresses the general nature or commonality among humans, altering in its scope.

the body of humanity

Presents a collective or unified image of humankind, diverging in its metaphor.

the collective of human beings

Highlights the group or collection aspect of mankind, shifting in its emphasis.

humankind in general

Focuses on humanity in a broad or non-specific sense, differing in generality.

the totality of mankind

Emphasizes the completeness of the human race, modifying in intensity.

the entirety of the human race

Stresses the complete or whole nature of humankind, altering in its focus.

the global population

Relates to the number of humans in the world, shifting in its perspective.

people in general

Addresses humans in a wide and non-specific way, diverging in its directness.

FAQs

How can I use "mass of mankind" in a sentence?

You can use "mass of mankind" to refer to humanity collectively, often in discussions about societal or global issues. For example: "The challenges facing the "mass of mankind" require global cooperation."

What is a good alternative to "mass of mankind"?

Alternatives to "mass of mankind" include "humanity as a whole", "the human population", or "the generality of humankind", depending on the context.

Is "mass of mankind" a formal or informal phrase?

"Mass of mankind" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it leans slightly towards formal or philosophical discussions.

What does the phrase "mass of mankind" emphasize?

The phrase "mass of mankind" emphasizes the collective nature of humanity and the shared experiences or challenges faced by people globally.