a time-honored practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a time-honored practice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a tradition or method that has been respected and valued over a long period of time. Example: "The art of storytelling is a time-honored practice that has been passed down through generations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"It's a time-honored practice," Mr. McCain said.

The New York Times

Translating librettos is a time-honored practice that takes enormous skill.

The New York Times - Arts

Complaining about officiating is a time-honored practice in the N.B.A.

The New York Times - Sports

In many kitchens, there's a time-honored practice called "save for well-done".

The New Yorker

In Osaka, a city built by merchants, haggling over prices was a time-honored practice.

The New York Times

TRANSGRESSION is a time-honored practice in the history of art (think of Manet's "Olympia" or Duchamp's "Urinal").

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Watching her half-brother, Jon Snow, draw up battle plans with his all-male team of advisors, she points out a major flaw in the time-honored practice of war games, which are based on blanket strategy avoiding an opponent's pincer move, for example—rather than understanding his psychology.

Vice

So when Frank Caprio, the Democratic nominee for governor, put together his economic plan, he decided to include an incentive — a finder's fee — to encourage the time-honored practice of business networking.

The New York Times

A California agency is campaigning to get car owners to change their motor oil at a longer interval, claiming that the time-honored practice of switching the oil every 3,000 miles is financially wasteful, detrimental to the environment and unwarranted.

The New York Times

Now, the artform, called amezaiku, is in danger of becoming obsolete, though a few artisans are keeping the time-honored practice alive.

Vice

Tutorspree, a startup that's looking to pull the time-honored practice of tutoring into the 21st century, has landed a $1 million funding round from some top investors, including Sequoia Capital.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a time-honored practice" to emphasize the longevity and respect associated with a particular custom, tradition, or method. It is best suited for contexts where both age and value are important.

Common error

Avoid using "a time-honored practice" when describing relatively new or short-lived trends. It's crucial to reserve this phrase for customs or traditions that have genuinely stood the test of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a time-honored practice" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes a particular practice as being respected and valued over a significant period. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples from reputable sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Arts

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a time-honored practice" is a phrase used to describe customs, traditions, or methods that have been respected and valued over a long period of time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and arts. While suitable for a wide range of registers, it's important to use it accurately for practices with genuine historical significance. Alternatives like "established tradition" or "long-standing custom" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Established tradition

Focuses more on the tradition being set and less on the element of time.

Long-standing custom

Emphasizes the duration and customary nature of the action.

Age-old tradition

Highlights the age of the tradition rather than its respected nature.

Venerable custom

Stresses the respect and reverence associated with the custom.

Time-tested method

Focuses on the method having proven effective over time, rather than being a social practice.

Deep-rooted tradition

Highlights how strongly embedded and established the tradition is.

Historical practice

Simply denotes a practice that has existed in the past, without necessarily implying respect or value.

Conventional procedure

Implies adherence to accepted norms, but does not necessarily emphasize the time element or honor.

Traditional approach

Focuses on the adherence to established ways of doing things, without necessarily implying honor or respect.

Classic technique

Highlights the technique's enduring appeal and relevance, rather than being a societal practice.

FAQs

How can I use "a time-honored practice" in a sentence?

You can use "a time-honored practice" to describe something that has been done for a long time and is respected. For example, "The art of storytelling is "a time-honored practice" passed down through generations."

What are some alternatives to "a time-honored practice"?

Alternatives include "established tradition", "long-standing custom", or "age-old tradition", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "old time-honored practice"?

Yes, it's generally redundant. The phrase "time-honored" already implies that the practice is old, so adding "old" is unnecessary and weakens the impact.

What is the difference between "a time-honored practice" and "a traditional practice"?

"A traditional practice" simply means it follows tradition. "A time-honored practice" implies both that it's traditional and that it's highly respected due to its long history.