as a practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a practice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a habitual action or a customary way of doing something. Example: "As a practice, we hold weekly meetings to discuss project updates and team progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Carroll would understand Catholicism principally as a practice rather than a creed, and as a practice one of whose forms is writing.

The New York Times - Books

It is to delegitimate terrorism as an activity, as a practice.

The New Yorker

She took Berlin as a practice run as well as a major race".

The New York Times - Sports

"But I really take the pro-am as a practice round.

The New York Times - Sports

Andrew Kornfeld is listed on the website as a practice consultant.

The Guardian - Music

I deliberately pulled my coach outside on Wednesday in torrential rain just as a practice.

The Guardian - Sport

Hacktivist Jason Gulledge paused beside me before answering: "Imagine it as a practice run.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was a commercial success, though they describe it more as a "practice run".

The Guardian - Film

It is about silence as a practice, a discipline, a way of life.

The Economist

He declined a practice-squad invitation and instead joined the Miami Dolphins as a practice player.

The New York Times

Pyongyang has already denounced the drill as a practice invasion of the North.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure. Rather than always starting a sentence with "As a practice", consider rephrasing to integrate it more smoothly into the sentence. For example, "We routinely conduct audits" instead of "As a practice, we conduct audits".

Common error

Avoid assuming that "as a practice" automatically implies universal acceptance or effectiveness. Just because something is done as a practice doesn't mean it is the best or only way to do it. Be mindful of the potential for criticism or alternative approaches.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a practice" typically functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the manner in which an action is performed or a state is maintained. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this function in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a practice" is a versatile phrase used to describe habitual actions, customary methods, or standards. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While generally neutral in register, careful attention should be paid to ensure clarity and avoid assumptions about universal acceptance. For alternatives, consider "as a routine", "as a habit", or "in practice" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a routine

Replaces "practice" with "routine", focusing on the habitual aspect.

as a custom

Replaces "practice" with "custom", emphasizing a tradition or widely accepted behavior.

as a habit

Replaces "practice" with "habit", highlighting an ingrained behavior.

as a matter of course

Indicates that something is done as a normal and expected part of a process.

as standard procedure

Specifies that something is done according to established and accepted procedures.

as a rule

Highlights that something is generally true or happens in most cases.

by way of practice

Shifts the emphasis to the method or means of practicing something.

in practice

Focuses on how something is actually done, rather than how it should be done in theory.

as is the norm

Replaces "practice" with "norm", emphasizing the common or typical way of doing something.

as a common method

Replaces "practice" with "common method", highlighting the widespread use of a technique.

FAQs

How can I use "as a practice" in a sentence?

Use "as a practice" to describe a customary or habitual action. For example, "As a practice, we review all code changes before deployment".

What are some alternatives to saying "as a practice"?

You can use phrases such as "as a routine", "as a habit", or "in practice" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "as a practice" in formal writing?

Yes, "as a practice" is suitable for formal writing, especially when describing standard procedures or professional norms.

What's the difference between "as a practice" and "in theory"?

"As a practice" describes how something is actually done, while "in theory" describes how something is supposed to be done, often highlighting a contrast between the ideal and the reality.