not very practical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'not very practical' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something that is not sensible or reasonable, and is not suitable for a particular situation. For example, "The suggestion to send a postcard instead of an email was not very practical."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It really was not very practical," Duchesne said.

The Guardian

If you're a family it's probably not very practical.

The New York Times

The resulting high-pitched chirps were significant, but not very practical.

The New York Times - Science

"It gives a warm feeling, but it is not very practical," Jason Pomeranc said.

The New York Times

"They're not very practical," Mr. Swedlow said, "but people bought them.

The New York Times

I always wanted to be one, but as an athlete it's not very practical.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's no longer a popular pastime, and it's not very practical".

The New York Times - Food

Others at the airport yesterday said it was not very practical for families with lots of luggage.

The New York Times

You take sides by inaction as much as by action … Not very practical is it, as a reaction?

The Guardian

Thus the idea that all negotiation should be conducted in the open is simply not very practical.

The New York Times

"Ordoliberalism is not very practical, it's religion," says Michael Burda, an American economist at Berlin's Humboldt University.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing why something is "not very practical", provide specific reasons. Instead of saying "The design is not very practical", explain what makes it so, such as "The design is not very practical because it requires too much maintenance."

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "not very practical" without detailing the specific impracticalities. Provide concrete examples or reasoning to support your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very practical" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its level of practicality. Ludwig AI indicates that it is used to express that something is not sensible, reasonable, or suitable for a specific situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not very practical" is a common and versatile way to express reservations about the feasibility or usefulness of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. While grammatically sound and understandable, its suitability varies depending on the context; it might be perceived as less formal in certain professional environments. Related alternatives include "somewhat unfeasible" and "rather unrealistic", offering nuanced substitutes. When using the phrase, provide specific reasons for the perceived impracticality to enhance clarity and persuasiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat unfeasible

Emphasizes the difficulty or impossibility of implementation.

rather unrealistic

Highlights the lack of grounding in reality.

a bit inefficient

Focuses on the waste of resources or time.

not particularly viable

Suggests it lacks sustainability or long-term success.

scarcely workable

Implies significant challenges to making it function.

hardly applicable

Indicates limited relevance to the situation.

largely unsuitable

Highlights the inappropriateness for a particular purpose.

quite unwieldy

Emphasizes the difficulty in managing or using it.

somewhat disadvantageous

Focuses on the drawbacks or negative consequences.

a trifle unadvisable

Suggests it is not recommended due to potential risks or problems.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "not very practical" to sound more formal?

Consider using alternatives such as "somewhat unfeasible", "rather unrealistic", or "not particularly viable" depending on the context.

What does it mean when something is described as "not very practical"?

It means that something is not sensible, efficient, or suitable for a particular purpose. It implies that there are better or more realistic options available.

Is "not very practical" the same as "impractical"?

While similar, "not very practical" suggests a lesser degree of impracticality than "impractical". "Impractical" implies that something is completely unusable, while "not very practical" suggests that it might be usable but with significant drawbacks.

Can you provide an example of how to use "not very practical" in a sentence?

Certainly. For instance, "Living without the internet is "not very practical" in today's world."