conceptually

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "conceptually" is a correct usage in written English.
"Conceptually" refers to thinking or understanding a concept or idea. Example sentence: We are conceptually prepared to take on this difficult project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On the first reading, EXT holds that a water thought logically or conceptually implies some environmental condition E. Yet for the incompatibilist, logical or conceptual implications are apriori.

SEP

"So conceptually it is definitely, from the architect's point of view, a major part of the building, and we agreed," Johnson said.

The Guardian - Arts

At the time I recall being mildly disappointed by what seemed like a rather conceptually slight work; almost too conventional compared with the relentless gothic nastiness of the author's notorious debut, The Wasp Factory, or the sheer imaginative triumph of his masterpiece The Bridge.

The Guardian - Books

His works have plenty of visual pizazz but can be weak conceptually; the better ones evoke performance of various kinds, from raves to traditional American Indian dances.

The New York Times - Arts

Conceptually, this scheme is similar to the path-breaking reforms now underway in Massachusetts, which has a "Health Connector" up and running.The big difference, however, is that Massachusetts obliges individuals to buy insurance or else face higher taxes.

The Economist

Despite being conceptually distinct phenomena, the political economy of income inequality is, in part, the political economy of finance.

The Economist

Vehicle development slowed, and the firm lost its reputation for producing conceptually innovative cars such as its Espace, Twingo and Scenic models.

The Economist

Grayson Perry, an artist best known for his pots though he now spends less than half his time with his hands in clay, drives home the point with conceptually sophisticated works that include ceramic vases, tapestries and prints.

The Economist

As Statistics New Zealand, that country's official statistics body, points out: "[Sexual orientation] is conceptually difficult to define and measure, particularly given the self-completed nature and limited space of census forms".

The Economist

However, because the Excel tasks were mildly unpleasant without being conceptually difficult, the study captured the type of motivational effects that could have implications for reducing personal debt.

The Economist

The American Enterprise Institute came out with a plan in August that was very conceptually interesting (although Henry Aaron attacked it for being non-responsive to the actual process of health-insurance reform unfolding today in America since it tried to act as though Obamacare didn't exist).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conceptually" to clarify that you are discussing an idea or understanding of something, not necessarily its practical application. This helps to distinguish theoretical considerations from real-world implementations.

Common error

Avoid using "conceptually" when a simpler word like "basically" or "essentially" would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex and pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "conceptually" functions to modify verbs or adjectives, indicating that something is being considered from the perspective of a concept or idea. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conceptually" is a versatile adverb used to indicate that something is being considered from a conceptual or ideational standpoint. Ludwig AI affirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used. It frequently appears in News & Media and Science, and it serves to clarify abstract discussions. Alternatives like "in theory" or "essentially" may sometimes be used, but "conceptually" provides a specific emphasis on the conceptual nature of the subject. Using simpler words is preferable when possible, to avoid unnecessary complexity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in theory

Focuses more on the theoretical aspect rather than the conceptual understanding.

in principle

Emphasizes adherence to a fundamental idea or doctrine.

theoretically speaking

Adds an explicit qualifier to indicate a theoretical perspective.

from a conceptual standpoint

Highlights the perspective from which the concept is viewed.

as a concept

Simplifies the expression to focus on the basic idea.

on a conceptual level

Indicates the depth or plane of understanding.

in essence

Focuses on the core nature of a concept.

in idea

Highlights the ideational aspect, similar to a plan or intention.

abstractly

Refers to dealing with ideas rather than concrete events.

philosophically

Implicates a philosophical or theoretical dimension of understanding.

FAQs

How is "conceptually" used in a sentence?

"Conceptually" is used to describe something related to a concept or idea. For example, "Conceptually, the plan is sound, but its practical implementation is challenging."

What's the difference between "conceptually" and "theoretically"?

"Conceptually" relates to understanding a concept, while "theoretically" /s/theoretically speaking relates to a theory. You might say, "Conceptually, we understand the model, but theoretically, there are still some limitations."

What are some alternatives to using "conceptually"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "in theory", "in principle", or "essentially".

Is it always necessary to use "conceptually", or can it sometimes be omitted?

Sometimes, using "conceptually" is unnecessary and can be omitted for brevity. For example, instead of saying "Conceptually, this is how it works", you could simply say "This is how it works". This avoids unnecessary wordiness.