practically true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically true" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is almost or nearly true, but may not be entirely accurate in every detail. Example: "While the theory has its flaws, it is practically true that regular exercise improves mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

For narrow bandwidth composite signals, this approximation may be practically true and the presentations in [2], sufficient.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

This paper introduces the notions of ultimately true and practically true upper and lower bound elements with reference to two point boundary elements.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The form of the initial bound criterion, which is determined by the free-free or fixed-fixed element eigenvalues, suggest its use for the formulation of practically true lower bound elements.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

For example, the SNP-based DASE measurement may only represent certain transcribed isoforms of a certain gene, and it is practically true when the targeted SNPs are located in the 5′ or 3′ UTRs of this gene.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This is practically always true even when the eavesdropper is close to the receiver because the wireless channel decorrelates fast in space.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This sounds logical but, practically, the true risk associated with an individual's sexual behavior is contingent upon the partner's sexual behavior j.

Global Health Action

His work can strike sparks; in 1994 "Cocaine True" practically lit a fire.

The New York Times - Arts

His collection, which concisted entirely of issues of the British Commonwealth of Nations, was complete to the extent of having practically everything a true philatelist could desire, sketches, rejected designs, essays, dies, etc.

The New Yorker

True, in an evolutionarily airtight world, print would all but have gone the way of the dodo, and true, practically every publication has at one point or another in the past five years bemoaned the potently quotable impending "death of print".

Vice

This is a true blockbuster, practically a museum in itself, stuffed with surprises and marvels.

The Guardian - Arts

Platforms are unreliable guides to what a prospective Administration will actually do once in power, and it's true that practically nobody reads them.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically true" when you want to convey that something is true in most relevant aspects, even if not entirely accurate in every detail. This is particularly useful when discussing approximations or simplifications.

Common error

Avoid using "practically true" when precision is essential. If complete accuracy is required, opt for more definitive language to avoid misleading the reader about the degree of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically true" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun. It serves to qualify the truthfulness of a statement, suggesting that it is true for most intents and purposes, even if not absolutely or technically correct. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "practically true" is a useful way to express that something is essentially correct, even if not entirely accurate in every respect. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, especially when describing approximations or simplifications. While it appears most frequently in scientific and news-related sources, it's important to avoid overstating accuracy when using this phrase. Consider alternatives like "virtually true" or "almost accurate" depending on the specific context to fine-tune the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually true

Replaces "practically" with "virtually", emphasizing the near-truth aspect.

almost accurate

Shifts from truth to accuracy, implying a slight deviation from being completely correct.

nearly correct

Focuses on correctness, suggesting a minimal level of error.

effectively true

Highlights the functional truth of something, even if not literally true.

in effect true

Similar to 'effectively true', suggesting the truth is based on the overall impact.

for all practical purposes true

Adds a qualifier emphasizing that the truth holds in practical situations.

tantamount to true

Indicates that the situation is equivalent to being true, although not precisely so.

as good as true

Uses an idiom to convey that something is very close to being true.

essentially correct

Emphasizes the fundamental correctness, despite possible minor inaccuracies.

largely true

Suggests that the statement is mostly true, but some parts may not be.

FAQs

What does "practically true" mean?

The phrase "practically true" means that something is almost or nearly true, but may not be entirely accurate in every detail. It indicates that the statement holds true for most practical purposes.

How can I use "practically true" in a sentence?

You can use "practically true" to describe a situation where a statement is generally correct, even if not technically or precisely true. For example: "While the model simplifies the system, it's "practically true" in most real-world scenarios."

What are some alternatives to "practically true"?

Some alternatives to "practically true" include "virtually true", "almost accurate", or "nearly correct". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "practically true" the same as "technically true"?

No, "practically true" and "technically true" have different meanings. "Practically true" suggests a general truth, while "technically true" indicates something is true in a narrow, specific sense, often implying that it may not be generally applicable or relevant.