superfluous labor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "superfluous labor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe work or effort that is unnecessary or excessive in a given context. Example: "The company decided to cut down on superfluous labor to improve efficiency and reduce costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Many, at least those who do not become recidivists, become surplus and then superfluous labor.

The New York Times

Furnish him with manufactures and commodities, and he will do it of himself; afterward you will find it easy to seize some part of his superfluous labor and employ it in the public service without giving him his wonted return.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This population growth coupled with a legal restriction on agricultural land market hindered farm expansion that made farms smaller and hiring labor superfluous, which created a significant level of unemployment in the rural part of the country (Bezu and Holden 2014).

Agricultural and Food Economics

On the other, most people's labor may become superfluous, or at any rate severely devalued.

Forbes

If we believe that formal punishments issued by the legal system reflect the societal view and compensate for and remediate the misdeeds conducted by criminals, then further informal punishments in a society, such as unequal treatment in the labor market, are superfluous.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

First, and most obvious, it renders the lifelong labors of Sigmund Freud almost entirely superfluous.

The New Yorker

Thus, women and people of different color suffer not only from a discriminating status order, but also from an economy which is based on encoding unpaid housework and badly paid labor as female as well as auxiliary and superfluous work as colored.

SEP

From highly paid presidents to superfluous administrators, universities are also adopting the language and practices of corporate labor relations, especially when it comes to replacing tenured faculty with poorly paid part-time teachers.

Huffington Post

Sequence information is superfluous when the objective is to determine species identity, in which case PCR-based approaches save time, labor, and resources.

Applications in Plant Sciences

Superfluous, indeed.

The New York Times - Arts

Superfluous man.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "superfluous labor" when you want to emphasize that the work being done is unnecessary or excessive, often due to inefficiency or overstaffing. It's suitable for formal and analytical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "superfluous labor" when you simply mean 'unskilled labor' or 'low-paid labor'. The term implies that the labor is not needed, not necessarily that it lacks skill or receives poor compensation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "superfluous labor" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'superfluous' modifies the noun 'labor'. It describes labor that is beyond what is required or necessary. Ludwig provides examples where it is used to discuss workforce redundancy or inefficiency.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "superfluous labor" refers to labor that is unnecessary or excessive. While grammatically correct and usable, as noted by Ludwig, it's a relatively rare phrase, primarily appearing in news, academic, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you're accurately conveying the idea of unneeded labor rather than simply describing the skill level or compensation of workers. Alternative phrases like "unnecessary work" or "redundant labor" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to express. Use it in formal and analytical contexts for accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessary work

Focuses on the lack of need for the work being done, rather than the excess.

redundant labor

Implies that the labor is repetitive or duplicates existing efforts.

excess labor

Highlights the overabundance of labor in a specific situation.

surplus labor

Indicates that there is more labor available than needed.

unproductive labor

Suggests that the labor is not yielding the desired results or output.

idle workforce

Refers to a situation where workers are available but not actively engaged in work.

unutilized workforce

Emphasizes that the available labor resources are not being put to good use.

gratuitous effort

Highlights the unnecessary nature of the effort expended.

needless exertion

Focuses on the lack of justification for the physical or mental effort.

disposable workforce

Conveys that workers are seen as easily replaceable and not highly valued.

FAQs

How can I use "superfluous labor" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company decided to eliminate the "superfluous labor" to streamline operations and reduce costs".

What's a good alternative to "superfluous labor"?

Depending on the context, you could use "unnecessary work", "redundant labor", or "excess labor".

Is "superfluous labor" the same as "cheap labor"?

No, "superfluous labor" refers to labor that is unnecessary or excessive. "Cheap labor" refers to labor that is inexpensive, regardless of its necessity.

What does it mean when labor is described as "superfluous"?

It means the labor is considered extra, redundant, or not essential for achieving a particular outcome. It often implies inefficiency or overstaffing.