as closely as practicable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as closely as practicable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the extent to which something should be done or adhered to, emphasizing the importance of following guidelines or standards as much as possible. Example: "We will follow the safety protocols as closely as practicable to ensure the well-being of all participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

6, 7 To improve the experience of women having uncomplicated caesareans, we have modified obstetric, midwifery and anaesthetic practice over the past 6 years to emulate as closely as practicable the woman-centred aspects of 'natural' vaginal birth.

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

National historic trails, established as provided in section 1244 of this title, which will be extended trails which follow as closely as possible and practicable the original trails or routes of travel of national historical significance.

Cornell University

We believe that decisions should be taken as closely as possible to the people they affect and that decision-makers, wherever practicable, should be elected.

The Guardian - Opinion

Follow the shape as closely as possible.

WikiHow

Follow the handbook as closely as possible.

WikiHow

If not satisfactorily resolved, the account was closed or put in the process to be closed as soon as practicable.

The Guardian - Business

The detention facilities at Guantánamo for individuals covered by this order shall be closed as soon as practicable.

Huffington Post

The company is working expeditiously to close the transaction as soon as practicable in Q2.

TechCrunch

A decision seems to have been made to watch her closely, letting her face fill the screen as often as practicable, and it pays off in spades.

Los Angeles Times

It said it would "continue to work closely with the European Commission to resolve this matter as soon as practicable".

The New York Times

This should be incorporated in legislation as soon as practicable".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as closely as practicable", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes 'practicable' in the given situation. This avoids ambiguity and sets realistic expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "as closely as practicable" when there are known, significant obstacles that prevent close adherence to a standard or guideline. Instead, acknowledge the limitations explicitly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as closely as practicable" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which an action should be performed. It expresses the degree to which something should be done, emphasizing adherence while acknowledging feasibility.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as closely as practicable" serves as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing adherence to a standard or guideline while acknowledging real-world limitations. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for formal contexts like scientific and academic writing. While less common than "as closely as possible", "as closely as practicable" offers a nuanced approach, balancing aspiration with feasibility. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in defining what constitutes 'practicable' to avoid ambiguity and promote realistic expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as closely as possible

Replaces "practicable" with "possible", focusing on the maximum achievable closeness without explicitly considering feasibility.

to the nearest extent feasible

Emphasizes the feasibility aspect more strongly than the original phrase, highlighting what is realistically achievable.

as near as is feasible

Similar to 'to the nearest extent feasible', but uses a slightly more concise wording.

to the degree practically achievable

Focuses on the practical aspect of achievement, highlighting the limits of what can be done in a real-world context.

as accurately as reasonably possible

Combines accuracy with reasonableness, suggesting a balance between precision and practicality.

as precisely as realistically attainable

Highlights both precision and the realistic possibility of achieving the desired outcome.

as faithfully as circumstances allow

Emphasizes adherence and the impact of external conditions.

to the closest degree that is workable

Highlights how close to the goal one can get and if it's useful.

within reasonable practical limits

Frames the action as occurring within defined boundaries of practicality and reason.

considering all practical limitations

This focuses on the awareness of practical barriers while aiming for a specific goal.

FAQs

How can I use "as closely as practicable" in a sentence?

You can use "as closely as practicable" to describe the extent to which something should be followed, emphasizing the importance of adhering to standards as much as possible given real-world constraints. For example, "We will follow the safety protocols "as closely as practicable" to ensure the well-being of all participants".

What's a more common alternative to "as closely as practicable"?

A more common alternative is "as closely as possible", which focuses on maximizing closeness without explicitly addressing feasibility. Depending on the situation, "to the best of our ability" may also be suitable.

Is "as closely as practicable" formal or informal?

"As closely as practicable" leans towards formal usage, often found in legal, technical, or official contexts. More casual alternatives might be preferred in everyday conversation.

How does "as closely as practicable" differ from "as closely as possible"?

"As closely as practicable" acknowledges limitations and feasibility constraints, implying that adherence will be maximized within those boundaries. "As closely as possible" suggests striving for the utmost closeness without necessarily considering practical limitations.