past practices

USAGE SUMMARY

"past practices" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to methods or behaviors that were commonly used in the past. An example: "The company decided to revert to its past practices to improve efficiency." Alternative expressions include "previous methods," "historical practices," and "former approaches."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Yet there are differences from past practices.

The New York Times

What are their past practices?

The New York Times

This declaration is consistent with the Iraqi regime's past practices.

The New York Times

"We're not about to revert to past practices of dilutive acquisitions," he said.

The New York Times

The exhibition ends with a comparison of the museum's current method of collecting with past practices.

The New York Times - Arts

Executives for Publishers Clearing House embraced the agreement even as they defended past practices.

The New York Times

"I realized it was possible to be truly faithful to past practices," Mr. Coffer said.

The New York Times - Arts

Past practices must have been basically correct, in the US case, even ordained by Divine Providence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ms. Farmer-Paellmann said companies like Aetna are being held accountable for their past practices.

The New York Times

Ms. Kane called it a "democratic uprising" consistent with past practices.

The New York Times

"There's zero risk of the company slipping back into bad past practices".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "past practices" when referring to a set of established methods or behaviors that were consistently followed in the past, rather than isolated incidents.

Common error

Avoid using "past practices" to refer to isolated historical events or singular occurrences. "Past practices" implies a pattern or system of behavior, not just something that happened once.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past practices" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It typically refers to established methods, behaviors, or customs that were followed in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "past practices" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase. It refers to established methods or behaviors from a previous time. Based on Ludwig, this phrase sees prominent use across News & Media, Science and encyclopedic contexts. When writing with "past practices", remember that it typically implies a system or pattern of behavior, not just single isolated events. Ludwig also confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English, making it a reliable choice for various writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous methods

Focuses specifically on the techniques and procedures used in the past, rather than general behaviors.

former approaches

Highlights the strategies and ways of dealing with situations that were used in the past.

historical customs

Emphasizes the traditional and cultural aspects of past behaviors.

traditional ways

Highlights the long-standing and culturally significant aspects of past behaviors.

bygone habits

Implies behaviors that are no longer common or relevant.

old conventions

Focuses on established rules or norms that were followed in the past.

earlier routines

Emphasizes the structured and regular aspects of past behaviors.

established norms

Focuses on practices that were considered standard or typical in the past.

time-honored traditions

Implies that past practices are valued and respected due to their longevity.

legacy behaviors

Suggests that past practices have had a lasting impact and continue to influence present actions.

FAQs

How can I use "past practices" in a sentence?

You can use "past practices" to refer to previous methods or behaviors. For example, "The company is reevaluating its "past practices" to improve efficiency."

What are some alternatives to "past practices"?

Alternatives include "previous methods", "historical customs", or "former approaches", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "past practices" or "previous practices"?

Both "past practices" and "previous practices" are acceptable, but "past practices" is slightly more common and can imply a more established or habitual nature.

How does the meaning of "past practices" differ from "historical events"?

"Past practices" refers to established methods or patterns of behavior, while "historical events" refers to specific occurrences or incidents in the past. "Past practices" implies a system, not just single happenings.