at a practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a practice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to attending a rehearsal or training session, typically in a sports or performing arts context. Example: "I will be at a practice for the basketball team this evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

At a practice game between the rivals in 2003, a fan was stabbed to death.

The New Yorker

28 July: Rice receives an ovation from Ravens fans at a practice.

The Guardian - Sport

*That in 1997 Knight choked Reed at a practice, the allegation that spurred the overall inquiry.

The New York Times - Sports

Our day starts at a practice track beside the Isère river.

The Guardian - Travel

While in Beijing, he took some swings at a practice range.

The New York Times

At a practice of the women's softball team, Bush expressed his support for keeping the sport in the Olympics.

The New York Times - Sports

Tonight's episode ends with a vocal coach reprimanding the boys for arriving at a practice session late.

The New York Times

The next day, at a practice, Steve Kerr talked about the kind of disappointment that is specific to greatness.

The New Yorker

Last weekend Don Shula made an appearance at a practice for the first time since he retired in 1996.

The New York Times - Sports

A network television producer asked Bryant about his legal case at a practice last week in El Segundo, Calif.

The New York Times - Sports

"Yes, I believe I can the way I hit it," Watson said Tuesday at a practice round.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific alternatives like "during rehearsal" or "in a training session" to provide clarity and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "at a practice" when a more specific term like "rehearsal", "training session", or "therapy session" would be more appropriate for the context. Choose the term that most accurately reflects the activity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a practice" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the location or setting where an action takes place, specifying that the action occurs during a training session or rehearsal, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at a practice" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that an event occurred during a training session or rehearsal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in news and media, and to a lesser extent in scientific contexts. While versatile, it's advisable to use more specific terms like "during rehearsal" or "in a training session" for clarity, especially in formal writing. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for general communication, but precision is key to ensure the context is well understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during practice

This alternative is more concise and directly indicates the time frame when the activity occurs.

while practicing

This emphasizes the action of practicing rather than the location.

in a training session

Replaces "practice" with the more formal "training session".

during a rehearsal

This is specific to performing arts or similar contexts.

on the practice field

This alternative highlights the location of the practice.

at the training ground

This alternative provides a specific location for training.

at a training facility

Implies a dedicated space for training activities.

in training

This alternative focuses on the state of being trained.

during team practice

Specifies that the practice is a team activity.

while in workout

Emphasizes the physical exertion aspect of the practice.

FAQs

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

You can use "at a practice" to describe being present at a training session or rehearsal. For example, "I saw him "at a practice" yesterday."

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

Alternatives include phrases like "during practice", "in a training session", or "while practicing", depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "at a practice" or "in a training session"?

"In a training session" tends to be more formal than "at a practice", making it suitable for professional or academic settings.

What's the difference between "at a practice" and "on the practice field"?

"At a practice" refers to the event itself, while "on the practice field" specifies the physical location where the practice is taking place. So, "at a practice" is more general.