practical question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practical question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a question that is relevant and applicable to real-life situations or problems. Example: "In our discussion about the project, I have a practical question regarding the budget allocation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An important practical question is, therefore, how to estimate under/over pricing of CVA under current practice.

Mathematics-in-Industry Case Studies

A practical question that remains is: what should be advised for therapists in clinical practice?

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

This is more than a practical question.

The New York Times - Magazine

It is also a practical question.

The Guardian - Opinion

"There's a practical question whether you could keep it separate".

The New York Times

"Making people less sedentary raises a practical question," Levine said.

The New Yorker

This is both a philosophical and a practical question.

The New York Times

Given the Texas drought, it's a practical question.

The New York Times

That's the philosophical and actually practical question that everybody's got to ask themselves".

The Guardian

A more practical question is how to behave in a computer simulation.

The New York Times - Science

"It is a practical question, on how to organize the training," Mr. Rasmussen said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When posing a "practical question", ensure it directly relates to actionable steps or tangible outcomes. Frame it in a way that invites specific and implementable solutions.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a "practical question" is necessarily simple to answer. Practicality refers to relevance and applicability, not inherent ease of resolution. A complex problem can still be addressed with a practical approach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practical question" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "practical" modifies the noun "question". According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English, referring to questions relevant and applicable to real-life situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "practical question" is a common and grammatically sound way to frame inquiries focused on real-world applications. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's widely used across various domains, including news, science, and formal business settings. The phrase serves to prompt actionable insights and concrete solutions. While it's suitable for formal writing, the term maintains a neutral register, making it accessible for broader communication. To enhance writing, consider framing the "practical question" to directly relate to actionable steps and to avoid confusing practicality with simplistic solutions. When a more refined way to express the phrase is needed, there exist a number of suitable alternatives, such as "realistic inquiry", "pragmatic consideration", or "feasible query".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

realistic inquiry

Replaces "question" with "inquiry" and "practical" with "realistic", emphasizing feasibility.

pragmatic consideration

Shifts from a question to a matter requiring thought, focusing on a practical approach.

feasible query

Emphasizes the possibility of being done easily or conveniently.

applied problem

Frames the question as a problem requiring a practical solution.

down-to-earth issue

Uses more informal language to convey the practical nature of the matter.

real-world concern

Focuses on the relevance of the question to actual situations.

actionable item

Highlights the potential for concrete action resulting from the question.

tangible matter

Refers to something perceptible by the senses, suggesting a practical and concrete issue.

serviceable inquiry

Focuses on how the inquiry can be used to provide a service or solve a problem.

functional aspect

Moves away from the idea of a question and focuses on the working aspect of the subject.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "practical question" for variety?

Consider alternatives such as "realistic inquiry", "pragmatic consideration", or "feasible query" to add nuance to your writing.

Is "practical question" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "practical question" is appropriate for formal writing. However, depending on the specific context, a more precise term like "actionable item" or "real-world concern" might be more effective.

What's the difference between a "practical question" and a theoretical one?

A "practical question" seeks answers that can be applied to real-world situations and lead to concrete actions. In contrast, a theoretical question explores abstract concepts and ideas, often without immediate practical application.

When is it best to use the term "practical question"?

Use "practical question" when you want to emphasize the relevance and applicability of a question to specific, tangible problems or scenarios. It's particularly useful when contrasting with more abstract or philosophical inquiries.