it is practically impossible for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is practically impossible for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something is very difficult or nearly unachievable for a specific subject or situation. Example: "Given the current circumstances, it is practically impossible for us to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

And for this, when it is practically impossible for us to get it ourselves, not completely, of course, but what we can, we are dependent on God.

The New Yorker

It is practically impossible for a woman to accelerate in her career and maintain a balance with her family without their support".

The New York Times

It is practically impossible for companies without scale to keep even relatively healthy titles and news brands alive as profitable entities.

The Guardian

It is practically impossible for a person to be absolutely and completely convinced of any controverted fact which by its nature cannot be proved by mathematical certainty".

The New York Times

Today, it is practically impossible for more than 190 countries to negotiate — and ultimately ratify — an agreement that would affect all facets of their economies in order to deal with a problem so far in the future.

The New York Times

A lot of well-known professors have groups so big that it is practically impossible for them to spend enough time on each project to warrant authorship of papers.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"It was practically impossible for Coach Viktor Tikhonov to tune them up and motivate them.

The New York Times - Sports

"So now it's practically impossible for clerics to preach moderation and patience".

The New York Times

Until a couple of years ago, it was practically impossible for someone not connected to military rulers to get service.

The New Yorker

"It's practically impossible for us to do our jobs anymore," one of the anonymous correspondents said on the air on Thursday.

The New York Times

Hōnen, convinced of his own "sinful and avaricious" nature, however, came to the conclusion that, while it was theoretically possible, it was practically impossible for him and others like him to follow the Sacred Way.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is practically impossible for" to convey a strong sense of difficulty or near impossibility. Ensure the context clearly supports the assertion.

Common error

Avoid using "it is practically impossible for" when something is merely difficult but still achievable. Reserve this phrase for situations where the chances of success are extremely low.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is practically impossible for" functions as an evaluative expression, indicating that something is extremely difficult to achieve. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it qualifies a situation or action as being nearly unachievable due to practical constraints or limitations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is practically impossible for" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey a high degree of difficulty or near impossibility. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English. While not as absolute as "impossible", it suggests a very low likelihood of success due to practical limitations. This phrase is common across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias, maintaining a generally neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure that the context justifies the strong assertion of near impossibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's virtually impossible for

Replaces "practically" with "virtually", emphasizing the near impossibility.

it's almost impossible for

Substitutes "practically" with "almost", indicating a slightly lower degree of impossibility.

it's nearly impossible for

Replaces "practically" with "nearly", conveying a sense of close to impossible.

it's effectively impossible for

Uses "effectively" instead of "practically", highlighting the practical result being impossibility.

it's unfeasible for

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise expression using "unfeasible".

it's unrealistic for

Substitutes the phrase with "unrealistic", focusing on the lack of realism or practicality.

it's out of the question for

Replaces the phrase with "out of the question", indicating something is not to be considered.

it's hardly possible for

Uses "hardly possible" to convey the difficulty.

it's a long shot for

Replaces the phrase with an idiomatic expression indicating a low chance of success.

there's little chance for

Focuses on the lack of opportunity or likelihood.

FAQs

What does "it is practically impossible for" mean?

The phrase "it is practically impossible for" indicates that something is extremely difficult to achieve or almost certain not to happen due to practical limitations or constraints.

What can I say instead of "it is practically impossible for"?

You can use alternatives like "it's virtually impossible for", "it's almost impossible for", or "it's nearly impossible for" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "it is practically impossible for"?

Use "it is practically impossible for" when describing a situation where the likelihood of success is very low due to significant obstacles or limitations. Ensure the context supports such a strong claim.

Is there a difference between "it is practically impossible for" and "it is impossible for"?

Yes. "It is impossible for" suggests absolute impossibility, while "it is practically impossible for" implies a very high degree of difficulty but leaves a slight possibility, however small, of achievement. The former is a stronger statement.