ordinary staff

USAGE SUMMARY

'ordinary staff' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe employees who do not have special skills, abilities, or positions. For example, "The company employs over 100 ordinary staff to help keep production moving smoothly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Some directors are collecting millions while schemes are scaled back for ordinary staff".

The Guardian - Money

Executives at the FTSE 100 energy company will have their pension contribution rate halved in an attempt to bring their arrangements in line with those of ordinary staff.

The Times

She added: "It's not ordinary staff at the BBC who need to 'get austerity' – they've been living it for years now.

The Guardian

The Community and Public Sector Union national secretary, Nadine Flood, welcomed the decision on the basis the "zero tolerance approach to integrity issues" faced by ordinary staff should also apply at the top of Border Force.

The Guardian

Executives at the FTSE 100 energy company, including its chief executive, Iain Conn, will see their pension contribution rate halved in a bid to bring their arrangements into line with those of ordinary staff.

The Times

"We're worried for the ordinary staff and how the university is going to come out of this".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

As stressed above, the Secretariat has no indication that additional resources could, for instance, be available to deal with extra-ordinary staff redeployment and separation costs.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The assessors were ordinary clinical staff, external research staff, or a mixture of both.

BMC Health Services Research

On an ordinary day, staff work late and eat their sandwiches in front of computer screens.

The Guardian

They are being slashed from 30percentnt of base pay to 10percentnt, which is lower than pension contributions offered to ordinary UK staff.

The Times

"And I know that ordinary academic staff who are on pretty modest incomes have generally had their pay held back to a 1% pay rise.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ordinary staff" when you want to distinguish them from executive or management positions within an organization.

Common error

Be mindful of the tone when using "ordinary staff". It should not imply a lack of value or importance. Instead, maintain a neutral or respectful tone to avoid unintended offense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ordinary staff" functions as a noun phrase where "ordinary" modifies the noun "staff". It specifies a subset of staff members, distinguishing them from those in management or leadership roles, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ordinary staff" is used to describe employees who are not in management or specialized roles within an organization. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in a variety of contexts, including news, science, and business. While the term is generally neutral, it's important to use it respectfully and avoid implying a lack of value. Alternatives like "regular employees" or "rank-and-file staff" can be used depending on the context. Understanding the appropriate use of this phrase can help ensure clear and respectful communication in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regular employees

Focuses on the standard employment status without emphasizing a lack of special skills.

rank-and-file staff

Emphasizes the hierarchical position of the staff, indicating they are not in management.

general workforce

Highlights the collective aspect of the staff as a whole.

non-managerial staff

Specifically excludes those in managerial positions.

basic personnel

Focuses on the fundamental role of these staff members.

entry-level employees

Indicates the level of experience and position within the company.

frontline workers

Highlights those who directly interact with customers or are involved in primary operations.

support staff

Emphasizes the role of providing assistance to other departments or individuals.

standard employees

Focuses on the typical and expected roles of employees.

average employees

Indicates employees who perform at the typical level of competence.

FAQs

How can I use "ordinary staff" in a sentence?

You can use "ordinary staff" to describe employees who are not in management or executive positions. For example: "The company relies on its "ordinary staff" to handle day-to-day operations."

What is a good alternative to "ordinary staff"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "ordinary staff" could include "regular employees", "rank-and-file staff", or "general workforce".

Is it appropriate to refer to employees as "ordinary staff"?

Yes, "ordinary staff" is generally acceptable when used to differentiate from management or specialized roles. However, ensure your tone is neutral and respectful to avoid implying lesser value.

What's the difference between "ordinary staff" and "executive staff"?

"Ordinary staff" refers to employees who are not in leadership or management positions, while "executive staff" refers to those in higher-level management roles with decision-making authority.