difficult in practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult in practice" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or concept that may seem straightforward in theory but proves to be challenging when applied in real-life scenarios. Example: "While the theory behind the project is sound, it has proven to be difficult in practice due to unforeseen complications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, marking camera locations can be difficult in practice.

The New York Times

This turns out to be difficult in practice.

Stanford University

Implementing this soaring vision, however, is difficult in practice.

The Economist

However, the acquisition of label information is difficult in practice.

Pattern Recognition

I can "have it all" and it can still be really difficult in practice.

The Guardian - Money

But it is often difficult, in practice, to achieve this goal.

The New York Times

Collaborative partnerships are easy in principle and usually difficult in practice.

The Guardian

He feels Federer must attack, but says, 'It is easy in theory but difficult in practice.

The Guardian - Sport

That's easy to define on paper but really difficult in practice.

Harvard Business Review

According to the district's Department of Transportation, that strategy is difficult in practice.

The New York Times

Achieving a balanced product portfolio appears to be more difficult in practice than in theory.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "difficult in practice" with specific examples to illustrate the challenges. This adds credibility to your assessment.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the difficulty to the point of dismissing the idea entirely. Instead, acknowledge the challenges while exploring potential solutions or adaptations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult in practice" functions as an adjectival phrase, typically modifying a noun or pronoun, or as a predicate adjective following a linking verb. It describes the characteristic of something being challenging to execute or implement, as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult in practice" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey that while an idea may seem simple or promising in theory, its actual implementation faces significant challenges. Ludwig AI confirms this, presenting numerous examples across diverse domains, including news, science, and academia. Understanding its usage allows for more accurate and nuanced communication, helping to set realistic expectations and encourage proactive problem-solving.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to implement

Focuses on the act of implementing as the source of difficulty.

challenging to execute

Highlights the challenges involved in the execution phase.

not easy to realize

Emphasizes the struggle to bring something into reality.

more complicated than it seems

Underscores the deceptive simplicity of a task or concept.

problematic in application

Specifically points out issues in the practical application.

poses practical difficulties

Highlights practical difficulties.

tough to put into action

Focuses on the difficulty of translating ideas into tangible actions.

easier said than done

A common idiom emphasizing the discrepancy between theoretical simplicity and practical complexity.

faces real-world obstacles

Highlights the obstacles and barriers in the real world that make something "difficult in practice".

demands significant effort in reality

This emphasizes that despite how it may seem, implementing something requires a large effort in the real world.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult in practice" to describe situations where a concept or idea is challenging to implement in real-world scenarios. For example, "While the theory is sound, implementing it has proven "difficult in practice"."

What can I say instead of "difficult in practice"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to implement", "challenging to execute", or "not easy to realize" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "difficult in practice" or "difficult in theory"?

The choice depends on the context. "Difficult in theory" suggests that the concept itself is flawed or hard to understand. "Difficult in practice" implies the concept is understandable, but faces challenges during implementation.

What makes something "difficult in practice" but not in theory?

Real-world constraints, unforeseen complications, lack of resources, or human factors can make something that seems simple in theory ""difficult in practice"". For example, a policy might sound good on paper, but resistance from those affected could make it "difficult in practice".