Manually

Manually is an adverb used to describe actions performed by hand rather than by automatic, mechanical, or electronic means. It is commonly found in phrases such as manually operated, manually controlled, or you must manually enter data, signaling that human effort or intervention is required.

Etymology and form: Manually derives from the Latin manus meaning hand, through the form manualis and into modern English as manually. It is related to the adjective manual and to other terms that reference hand-based action.

Applications and contexts: In everyday technology, a device may offer manual operation for settings or calibration. In computing, users may enter data manually rather than rely on automation. In vehicles, manual transmission requires the driver to change gears, as opposed to automatic transmission. In industry and skilled trades, some processes are performed manually, providing greater control or flexibility but often at lower throughput and with higher fatigue risk compared with automated methods.

Related senses: The word manual also appears as an adjective meaning “done by hand” and as a noun for an instructional book, such as a user manual or training manual. In occupational contexts, the term manual can be contrasted with automatic or automated to distinguish between human labor and machine-driven processes.