a practical contribution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a practical contribution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the tangible or useful input someone has made to a project, discussion, or field of study. Example: "Her research provided a practical contribution to the ongoing debate about climate change solutions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Social care has a challenging year ahead trying to make real change happen amid the greatest budget pressures in a generation – I'm keen to explore with the board how we can continue making a practical contribution and a positive impact.

The Guardian

Mr De Meo, who is the group's head of marketing as well as Alfa's new chief executive, admits that the expensive, limited-edition 8C Spider is a "halo" model rather than a practical contribution to Alfa's recovery, "a sign of competence and a blueprint" for Alfa's brand values.

The Economist

Additionally, this research makes a practical contribution toward designing effective instruction.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

By comparing business-reporting tools, we can state that our research has a theoretical, as well as a practical, contribution.

European Journal of Operational Research

Rawls viewed his own work as a practical contribution toward settling the long-standing conflict in democratic thought between liberty and equality, and toward describing the limits of civic and of international toleration.

SEP

An ongoing role for the ICO would allow the ICO to continue to share its resources and expertise with the network of EU Data Protection Authorities, and provide a practical contribution at EU level which will benefit citizens and organisations in both the UK and the EU".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Thus, variables regarding exposure and peritraumatic fear were left out because they did not make any practical contribution to the model.

BMC Psychiatry

A further practical contribution is a statement by the international Corporate Leaders Group, of which I am patron - comprising over 900 of the world's most prominent companies drawn from more than 63 countries, including all the G20 members - on the significant business opportunities which a robust, effective and equitable global climate agreement could deliver.

The Guardian

"This is one of the unique people who have worked in both ways, as a symbol and with a very practical contribution," said Andrzej Jonas, editor of the English-language newspaper Warsaw Voice, and an acquaintance of Mr. Bartoszewski's for several decades.

The New York Times

Our framework fills a gap in the project management literature and makes a significant practical contribution: it helps project managers diagnose a project to recognize and reduce the likelihood of unk unks and thus deal more effectively with the otherwise unrecognized risks and opportunities.

Journal of Operations Management

Their impressive results, reported in The New England Journal of Medicine in 1990, showed that 11 of the first 12 patients treated with 2-CdA experienced a complete remission from leukemia for up to four years, an "extraordinary insight and an important practical contribution" to cancer research, said Dr. Marshall A. Lichtman, a professor of hematology and oncology at the University of Rochester.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When highlighting the real-world impact of research, use "a practical contribution" to emphasize how it solves tangible problems.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the immediate applicability of theoretical work. Instead, focus on potential long-term benefits or specific areas where the contribution might be applied.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a practical contribution" functions as a noun phrase, where 'practical' modifies 'contribution'. It highlights that the contribution is not just theoretical, but has real-world applications. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a practical contribution" effectively communicates that something provides a tangible benefit or helps to solve a real-world issue. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across a range of contexts, including scientific research, news reporting, and business communications. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid overstating the immediate applicability of the contribution and to focus on its specific areas of impact. Alternatives include phrases like "a useful contribution" or "a valuable contribution", which can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a useful contribution

Replaces "practical" with "useful", emphasizing the helpfulness of the contribution.

a valuable contribution

Substitutes "practical" with "valuable", highlighting the importance of the contribution.

a helpful addition

Shifts from "contribution" to "addition", focusing on the act of adding something beneficial.

a meaningful input

Replaces "contribution" with "input", suggesting a more active role in providing information or ideas.

a significant impact

Focuses on the result or effect of the contribution, rather than the act itself.

a tangible benefit

Emphasizes the concrete and measurable advantages derived from the contribution.

a worthwhile effort

Shifts the focus to the effort expended, implying that the contribution was worth the trouble.

a constructive element

Highlights the positive and building aspect of the contribution.

an instrumental part

Focuses on the essential role the contribution plays in achieving a larger goal.

an applicable resource

Stresses the usability and relevance of the contribution in a specific context.

FAQs

How can I use "a practical contribution" in a sentence?

You can use "a practical contribution" to describe something that offers a real-world benefit. For example, "This research makes "a practical contribution" to solving climate change."

What's a good alternative to "a practical contribution"?

Alternatives include "a useful contribution", "a valuable contribution", or "a helpful addition". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "a practical contribution" or "a theoretical contribution"?

Neither is inherently better; it depends on the context. "A practical contribution" emphasizes real-world application, while "a theoretical contribution" highlights advancements in understanding or knowledge.

What makes something "a practical contribution"?

Something is "a practical contribution" if it provides a tangible benefit or helps solve a real-world problem. It emphasizes usefulness and applicability over abstract or purely intellectual value.