practicability

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "practicability" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe whether or not something is practical and feasible to do. For example, you could say, "The practicability of her plan was questionable, so she decided to reconsider it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Jack Straw, the home secretary, immediately attacked the demand for neutrality in referendums and may reject this proposal.There are also question marks over the practicability of some of the other Neill proposals in particular his suggestion that there should be a limit of £20m on total expenditure by any political party during an election.

The Economist

However, the practicability of a merger remains in question.

The Economist

April 27, 1846 Lichtervelde, Belgium March 18 , 1892Lynn, Massachusetts Charles Joseph Van Depoele, (born April 27 , 1846 Lichtervelde, Belg. died March 18 , 1892 Lynn, Mass., U.S). Belgian-born American inventor who demonstrated the practicability of electrical traction (1874) and patented an electric railway (1883).

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1709 he built a man-powered paddle-wheel boat that successfully demonstrated the practicability of using the paddle wheel in place of oars on steam-driven ships.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The British agreed but soon began to doubt the practicability of mounting an amphibious invasion of France at such an early date.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was instructed to explore the Indian Ocean from west to east, south of the ordinary trade route, and, proceeding eastward into the Pacific (if this proved possible), to investigate the practicability of a sea passage eastward to Chile, to rediscover the Solomon Islands of the Spaniards, and to explore New Guinea.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Lord Palmerston, the prime minister, visited Sheffield and helped convince the government of the practicability of Brown's scheme, which soon led to orders for armour plate sufficient to protect about three-quarters of the ships of the Royal Navy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The publication in 1837 of Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability, by Rowland Hill (later Sir Rowland Hill), a British educator and tax reformer, is justly regarded as one of the most important milestones in postal progress.

Encyclopedia Britannica

How to Build a Time Machine (2001) reduces proposed means by which humans could feasibly travel through time to their essential elements and discusses the practicability of each.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Jinnah had originally been dubious about the practicability of Pakistan, an idea that the poet and philosopher Sir Muhammad Iqbal had propounded to the Muslim League conference of 1930, but before long he became convinced that a Muslim homeland on the Indian subcontinent was the only way of safeguarding Muslim interests and the Muslim way of life.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Like George W Bush, when she has a problem she listens to God much more than having rational conversations with her ministers," says Broomfield. "When she was in office, she wasn't interested in day-to-day legislation, the practicabilities, logical debate.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the potential success of a plan, consider using "practicability" to address whether it can be realistically implemented given current resources and constraints.

Common error

Avoid using "practicability" when you simply mean something is possible. "Practicability" implies not just possibility, but also a reasonable expectation of success and ease of implementation. If it is simply possible, then consider to use the word "possibility".

Linguistic Context

The noun "practicability" functions as an abstract noun, denoting the quality or state of being practicable. It describes the extent to which something is capable of being done, effected, or put into practice successfully. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

29%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "practicability" refers to the feasibility and potential success of implementing a plan or idea. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and most commonly found in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Science contexts. When using "practicability", ensure you are conveying not just possibility, but also a reasonable likelihood of success. Related terms include "feasibility", "workability", and "viability". Remember that the most common error is to confuse "practicability" with "possibility".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feasibility

Emphasizes the possibility of something being done easily or conveniently.

workability

Highlights the capacity of something to function or operate successfully.

viability

Focuses on the ability of something to survive or be sustained.

achievability

Highlights the capacity of something to be successfully completed or accomplished.

applicability

Focuses on the relevance and suitability of something in a particular context.

realizability

Emphasizes the potential for something to become a reality.

doability

A more informal term emphasizing the ease with which something can be done.

operability

Focuses on the ability of a system or process to function effectively.

implementability

Highlights the ease with which something can be put into effect or practice.

serviceability

Emphasizes the usefulness of something.

FAQs

How can I use "practicability" in a sentence?

Use "practicability" to refer to the feasibility or possibility of something being done or put into practice. For example, "The study assessed the practicability of implementing the new policy."

What is a good synonym for "practicability"?

A good synonym for "practicability" is "feasibility", which also refers to the state or degree of being easily or conveniently done.

How does "practicability" differ from "possibility"?

"Possibility" refers to whether something could happen or be done, whereas "practicability" considers whether it can be done easily and effectively, considering existing conditions and resources. "Practicability" implies a higher likelihood of success than mere "possibility".

What factors determine the "practicability" of a project?

Factors influencing "practicability" include available resources, existing technology, potential obstacles, cost-effectiveness, and the likelihood of achieving the desired outcome.