agreed upon in theory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "agreed upon in theory" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing concepts, ideas, or plans that are accepted or acknowledged in principle but may not yet be implemented or agreed upon in practice. Example: "The new policy is agreed upon in theory, but we still need to address the practical implications before it can be enacted."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

None of the above models or theories is universally agreed upon in the help-seeking field.

BMC Psychiatry

[Their]… position was agreed upon in the UN Security Council.

Independent

Coded language had been agreed upon in advance.

The New York Times

(This was the same target agreed upon in Paris).

The New Yorker

In Korea, RFS implementation was agreed upon in July 2013 and will be enforced beginning in July 2015.

Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment

Criteria for acceptable signal quality were agreed upon in advance.

Duke University

Numerous standards, ontologies, and exchange formats have been proposed and agreed upon in various domains.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Each assessment was agreed upon in turn.

British Journal of Cancer

Include whatever you have agreed upon in your birth plan.

WikiHow

Visiting your home can't be agreed upon in letters.

WikiHow

It is thus sometimes claimed that there exists no universally agreed upon theory or even understanding of human rights.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "agreed upon in theory" to introduce a plan or idea that has been approved in concept but requires further development or faces practical challenges before implementation.

Common error

Avoid using "agreed upon in theory" when the agreement extends to practical implementation; instead, use "agreed upon" or "fully agreed" to denote complete consensus.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "agreed upon in theory" functions as a qualifier, modifying a statement or proposal to indicate that the agreement is limited to the conceptual level. It highlights a distinction between theoretical acceptance and practical implementation. Since Ludwig AI doesn't have enough information to analyze this phrase due to the lack of examples, it is using its linguistic knowledge to make an inference.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "agreed upon in theory" is a phrase used to denote a conceptual consensus that may not translate directly into practical agreement or implementation. Ludwig AI underlines that the phrase is grammatically correct, although its frequency is currently missing due to the lack of examples. When using this phrase, ensure the context clarifies that the agreement is limited to a theoretical level and may require further development to address practical challenges. Alternatives like "accepted in principle" can be used to convey a similar meaning. Despite its lack of examples, "agreed upon in theory" remains a valid and useful expression in both formal and informal contexts to establish the kind of acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accepted in principle

Focuses on the acceptance of an idea or concept without necessarily implying practical implementation.

theoretically accepted

Highlights that the acceptance is only in theory, possibly contrasting with practical reality.

conceptually agreed

Emphasizes the agreement on the conceptual level, rather than practical details.

agreed in abstract

Similar to theoretically accepted, focusing on the abstract nature of the agreement.

nominally accepted

Implies a formal or superficial acceptance, potentially lacking genuine commitment.

in theory, it is agreed

Rephrases the original to emphasize the theoretical aspect using a different word order.

hypothetically approved

Suggests approval under hypothetical conditions, not necessarily reflecting real-world viability.

formally accepted

Implies an official or documented acceptance, though not necessarily a practical one.

in principle, agreed

Highlights agreement on fundamental principles rather than specific implementation details.

assumed theoretically

Focuses on the assumption that there's an agreement from a theoretical perspective.

FAQs

How can I use "agreed upon in theory" in a sentence?

You can use "agreed upon in theory" to describe situations where there's a conceptual consensus, but practical details are yet to be worked out. For instance, "The policy changes were "agreed upon in theory", but their real-world application remains uncertain."

What's the difference between "agreed upon" and "agreed upon in theory"?

"Agreed upon" implies a complete consensus, including practical implementation. "Agreed upon in theory" suggests agreement on the concept, but acknowledges potential challenges or unresolved issues in practice. You can use phrases like "accepted in principle" instead of "agreed upon in theory".

Is "agreed on in theory" grammatically correct instead of "agreed upon in theory"?

While "agreed on" is grammatically correct and often interchangeable with "agreed upon", the phrase "agreed upon in theory" is the more established form when specifying a theoretical agreement. They both are "theoretically accepted".

What are some alternatives to saying "agreed upon in theory"?

Alternatives include "accepted in principle", "theoretically accepted", or "conceptually agreed", depending on the nuance you want to convey.