over manpower

USAGE SUMMARY

'over manpower' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation in which an organization or individual has too many employees or staff members for the amount of work that needs to be done. For example: "We had a great team of volunteers, but we ended up with over manpower and had to let some go."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Chait joined the company after serving as Fromstein's lawyer during the battle with Blue Arrow, a British firm that took over Manpower briefly in 1987.

Forbes

Chait joined the company after serving as Fromstein's lawyer during the battle with Blue Arrow, a British firm that for a brief period took over Manpower in 1987.

Forbes

Britain's top military chief has warned that the UK faces ending up with a "hollow force" if politicians keep prioritising equipment over manpower.

Independent

Its members were already angry over manpower shortages and disputed personnel moves and by Mr. Weis's referring to federal prosecutors the case of an officer who beat a man shackled to a wheelchair; by his signaling that he thinks the force is lax and fat (literally); and by his being a non-Chicagoan and an F.B.I. alumnus derisively nicknamed J-Fed.

The New York Times

There was a correspondence between the expanding control of the dynasty over manpower and an increased grip on the irrigation systems in the region.

Human Ecology

His control over manpower in his kingdom was limited to his own domain and so was his direct control over irrigation matters.

Human Ecology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

He said the dispute over the memorial service merely coincided with the issue over Fire Department manpower at the site.

The New York Times

Collinson's father, Jim, said: "Since 1995 up to James's death in 2002 there have been a string of failures by the army over the manpower at Deepcut and the health and safety aspect at Deepcut.

The Guardian

Archaeological findings suggest, however, that improved agricultural techniques such as the use of iron tools for cultivation and improved techniques for leveling and flooding paddy fields allowed the Yamato rulers to exercise control over significant manpower resources, both to construct large tombs and to expand the area under their control outward from the Nara plain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Their extensive lineup means they have two drummers firing like twin engines and still have manpower left over for three guitars, a harmonica, a theremin and even the odd bit of Mackenzie's flute.

The Guardian - Music

This leads to a commitment of substantial amounts of money and manpower over an extended time.

Applied Thermal Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "over manpower", ensure the context clearly indicates a comparison or prioritization. For instance, "debates over manpower versus technology" effectively conveys a resource allocation discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "over manpower" without clearly specifying what it is being prioritized over. Unclear comparisons can lead to ambiguity in your writing and weaken the message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over manpower" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used to express the concept of prioritizing something else at the expense of human resources or having an excess of personnel. Ludwig confirms this by providing real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

16%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over manpower" is a prepositional phrase that is grammatically correct but used relatively rarely. It typically describes a prioritization scenario where something else is valued more than the workforce or a situation of having a labor force exceeding what's needed. As Ludwig indicates, examples are found in news, science and encyclopedia sources, indicating a relatively broad applicability. Consider context and choose related phrases like "excess staffing" or "staffing surplus" to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excess staffing

Focuses on the state of having more staff than needed.

surplus of labor

Highlights the availability of more workers than required.

staffing surplus

Emphasizes the overabundance of personnel from an organizational perspective.

excessive personnel

Draws attention to an unnecessary amount of employed individuals.

over-resourced workforce

Highlights the excess of resources allocated to the labor force.

overstaffed

A concise adjective describing the condition of having too many employees.

prioritizing equipment over people

Shifts focus to resource allocation choices between technology and workforce.

control over human resources

Highlights the management aspect of manpower.

dominance in personnel

Implies a superior position due to a larger workforce.

abundance of workers

Emphasizes the plentiful availability of individuals for employment.

FAQs

How can I use "over manpower" in a sentence?

You can use "over manpower" to show prioritization or comparison, for example: "The discussion centered on whether to invest in new equipment or address the existing concerns "over manpower" allocation".

What's a good alternative to "over manpower"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "excess staffing", "staffing surplus", or "prioritizing equipment "over people"".

Is it more common to say "over manpower" or "excess manpower"?

While both phrases are grammatically sound, "excess manpower" might be more commonly understood and used, especially in business contexts. "Over manpower" often implies a specific debate or choice, rather than a general state of excess.

What does "over manpower" mean in the context of military strategy?

In military strategy, "over manpower" could refer to having a numerical advantage in soldiers, often discussed in comparison to technological superiority or logistical constraints. It highlights the strategic implications of workforce size in conflict scenarios.