personnel cuts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "personnel cuts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing reductions in staff or workforce within an organization, often for financial reasons. Example: "Due to budget constraints, the company announced personnel cuts that will affect several departments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

The projected personnel cuts will have to be revisited annually.

The New York Times

As a last resort, there would be personnel cuts.

The New York Times

The personnel cuts, announced by Mr. Putin this week, come partly in response to these developments.

The New York Times

He obliquely faulted the news media and blamed people disgruntled by his budget and personnel cuts.

The New York Times

There are lots more ideas like this in an August 13 editorial, including personnel cuts and operational savings.

The New York Times

In January, it began laying off up to 5,000 people — its first-ever broad personnel cuts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

The transport strikes come as six of France's eight oil refineries are still halted or running at reduced capacity as part of the CGT's ongoing protests against François Hollande's attempt to change France's rigid labour protections and make it easier to hire and fire personnel, cut red tape and change the working week.

The Guardian

Officers also say that, with total active personnel cut to 1.4 million from 2.1 million in 1988, they're being sent overseas more often and for longer periods.

Forbes

Some establishments such as JC Penney's have already announced personnel cut backs and other such as Safeway is transitioning to mobile device and software applications for customers.

Huffington Post

The Obama administration recently shielded active-duty personnel from cuts in pay and benefits if Congress cannot agree on how to undo sequestration by the end of the year.

The New York Times

Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, said that the details were not complete, and that no decision had been made to subject the largest protected parts of the budget — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and military personnel — to cuts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In business or formal contexts, consider using "staff reductions" or "workforce downsizing" as more professional alternatives to "personnel cuts".

Common error

While it might be tempting to soften the impact of "personnel cuts" with vague euphemisms, doing so can create mistrust. Be direct and transparent about the situation, while remaining respectful and empathetic to those affected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personnel cuts" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the action of reducing staff numbers. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "personnel cuts" is a grammatically sound noun phrase that refers to the reduction of employees within an organization. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While the phrase is generally neutral, "staff reductions" or "workforce downsizing" may be more appropriate in formal settings. It is most commonly found in news and media, business, and science contexts. When using the phrase, clarity and directness are essential to avoid ambiguity. It's also good to remember that while "personnel cuts" are relatively common the user should be empathetic and clear about any organizational decisions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

staff reductions

Focuses on the action of reducing staff numbers.

workforce downsizing

Emphasizes the decrease in the overall workforce size.

employee layoffs

Highlights the termination of employment contracts.

job terminations

A more formal way to describe the end of employment.

downsizing measures

Refers to actions taken to reduce the size of the organization.

reducing headcount

More informal, focusing on the number of employees.

streamlining staff

Implies making the staff more efficient, potentially through reductions.

cutting manpower

Focuses on the reduction of human resources.

trimming the workforce

Suggests a more delicate or careful reduction in staff.

decreasing staff numbers

A straightforward description of reducing the amount of staff.

FAQs

What does "personnel cuts" mean?

"Personnel cuts" refers to the reduction of employees in an organization, often due to financial constraints or restructuring.

What are some alternative ways to say "personnel cuts"?

You can use alternatives like "staff reductions", "workforce downsizing", or "employee layoffs" depending on the context.

Is "personnel cuts" formal or informal?

"Personnel cuts" is relatively neutral, but using "staff reductions" or "workforce downsizing" might be more appropriate in formal or business contexts.

How can I use "personnel cuts" in a sentence?

Example: "The company announced significant "personnel cuts" due to the economic downturn."