a practical example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a practical example" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used when explaining a concept or idea by providing a real-life situation or scenario that demonstrates its application. For example: - "Let's explore the concept of supply and demand with a practical example. Imagine a popular toy that is in high demand during the holiday season. As a result, the price of the toy increases due to limited supply." - "In order to fully understand the benefits of recycling, let's look at a practical example. When households separate their recyclable materials, it reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, helping to preserve the environment." - "The textbook discusses the concept of teamwork, but here's a practical example from my own experience. In my previous job, our team successfully completed a difficult project by dividing tasks and communicating effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A practical example was taken to verify the effectiveness and practicality of this compensation method.

International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

"A practical example.

The Guardian - Opinion

A practical example is the master bedroom, Mr. Lucas said.

The New York Times

Wright is a practical example of quite how flexible the Grail ideal has proved.

Independent

A practical example is given.

International Journal of Fatigue

Here's a practical example of that from real life.

SEP

A practical example is taken up for illustration.

Chemical Engineering Science

A practical example is provided to illustrate the method.

Systems & Control Letters

A practical example is included to demonstrate our method.

Journal of Materials Processing Technology

A practical example of an actual production system was presented.

CIRP Annals

Data centre migration is a practical example of this case.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a practical example", ensure it directly relates to the concept you're explaining and clarifies its real-world application. Use clear and concise language to describe the example.

Common error

Avoid using "a practical example" that is too abstract or doesn't directly illustrate the point you're making. The example should be concrete and easily understood by your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a practical example" functions as an appositive or introductory element, serving to introduce a specific instance or illustration that clarifies a concept or principle. As supported by Ludwig's examples, it frequently precedes a description of a real-world scenario.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a practical example" is a versatile phrase used to introduce real-world instances that clarify concepts across various disciplines. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When incorporating "a practical example" in your writing, ensure it directly relates to the topic and provides clear, understandable insights. Alternatives like "a concrete illustration" or "a real-world instance" can add variety. Remember, the effectiveness of "a practical example" lies in its ability to make abstract ideas tangible and accessible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a concrete illustration

Replaces "practical" with "concrete", emphasizing the tangibility of the example.

a real-world instance

Substitutes "practical" with "real-world", highlighting the example's occurrence in actual situations.

a working model

Replaces "example" with "model", suggesting a functional demonstration of a concept.

a case in point

Uses a more concise, idiomatic phrase to convey the same meaning.

a specific application

Focuses on the application aspect of the example, implying a particular use case.

an actual demonstration

Replaces "example" with "demonstration", emphasizing the act of showing or proving something.

a clear illustration

Replaces "practical" with "clear", highlighting the ease of understanding the example.

a functional demonstration

Combines the practical and working aspects, useful when the intent is to show how something works in practice.

a hands-on example

Emphasizes the active, participatory nature of the example.

a tangible instance

Highlights the physical, touchable nature of the example.

FAQs

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

You can use "a practical example" to introduce a real-world application or instance of a concept. For instance, "To understand this theory, let's consider "a practical example" from the field of engineering."

What are some alternatives to using "a practical example"?

Instead of "a practical example", you could use phrases like "a concrete illustration", "a real-world instance", or "a case in point" to vary your language.

Is it better to say "a practical example" or "an example"?

"A practical example" specifies that the example is based on real-world application and usefulness. Simply saying "an example" is more general and may not necessarily imply a real-world connection.

What's the difference between "a practical example" and "a theoretical example"?

"A practical example" demonstrates how something works in reality, while "a theoretical example" explores a concept in an abstract or hypothetical scenario. The former is grounded in actual application, the latter in conceptual exploration.