practice civility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practice civility" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where you encourage respectful and polite behavior in interactions. For example, "In our discussions, let's practice civility to foster a positive environment." Alternative expressions include "show respect" and "demonstrate politeness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This, Mr. Trump, I thought, is why we practice civility.

The New Yorker

You can't force people to practice civility and engage in respectful dialogue, but each of us controls how we act towards others and has a choice to make.

Huffington Post

If we are to become a more effective citizenry, then we must demand our colleges and universities provide the time and the space to practice civility.

Huffington Post

Dickinson College President Bill Durdin says what they've done by educating Akbar suits the Dickinson College mission to, "Develop global sensibility, engage the world, seek connections, practice civility and strive for accountability".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But the moment in which I gained admittance to a civility celebration by practicing civility - and found that "making a hole" was a precursor to "making a whole" - well, that was my own personal, friendly but firm, Moment of Zen.

Huffington Post

That's why we've been working together with the Faith and Politics Institute in Washington during the past year to encourage both Members of Congress and their staff to practice greater civility in political discussions.

Huffington Post

No matter that he had nothing thought through, nothing committed to long term as in a strategic plan (let alone being consistent over a 5 minute time span); no background or experience except self-serving business practices; no civility; no restraint, such as historically given by authentic leadership/wisdom.

Huffington Post

Their idea of of being anti-racist was to fall back on practices of civility: racism was not only not polite, but to speak about race entailed risky speech, and one thing they had all learned was to be risk-averse.

Huffington Post

Mr. Alexander told The Associated Press when he arrived that the event was meant to "help young people learn political skills but to be more than political warriors -- to practice politics with civility and respect for others".

The New York Times

To this end, he claimed that "all citizens whatever their religious or philosophical persuasion" should maintain several responsibilities regarding the Constitution: understand it, support the law, practice civic virtue, maintain civility in political discourse, and promote patriotism.

Wikipedia

But 40percentt or fewer think that civility is practiced by President Donald Trump, his supporters and opponents, the media, or politicians on either side of the aisle.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with contexts involving public discourse, political debate or community standards to lend a sense of ethical weight to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "practice civility" as a euphemism for reaching a consensus. You can "practice civility" while fundamentally disagreeing with someone; it refers to the manner of the interaction, not the alignment of opinions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practice civility" functions as a transitive verb phrase where 'practice' denotes the habitual performance of a behavior and 'civility' serves as the abstract direct object. According to Ludwig, it is used to describe the intentional application of politeness in public or interpersonal spheres.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "practice civility" is a robust and sophisticated way to describe the intentional act of being polite and respectful in a social context. Based on Ludwig AI data, it is a grammatically correct verb phrase primarily found in high-authority news sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker. It suggests an ongoing effort or discipline rather than a passive trait. When writing, remember that it focuses on the method of interaction—acting with consideration and following social codes—even when disagreements exist. By using it, you invoke a standard of conduct that is highly valued in professional and public spheres.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demonstrate politeness

Focuses more on the visible display of manners rather than the habitual practice.

behave civilly

An adverbial variation that focuses on the manner of action.

show respect

Emphasizes the underlying attitude toward others rather than the social code itself.

maintain courtesy

Focuses on the continuity and endurance of polite behavior during an interaction.

uphold decorum

Suggests a higher degree of formality often associated with institutions or formal events.

foster respectful dialogue

Targets the communicative aspect of civility within a conversation.

exercise restraint

Highlights the self-control required to remain civil in the face of provocation.

act with consideration

Emphasizes being mindful of the feelings and needs of others.

observe etiquette

Specifically refers to following established social rules and protocols.

promote decency

A broader moral alternative focusing on general ethical standards.

FAQs

How do I use "practice civility" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a social goal, such as "The committee urged all members to "practice civility" during the public hearing." Alternatives like "show respect" can also be used depending on the tone.

What is the difference between "practice civility" and "show respect"?

While "show respect" is about an individual's attitude toward another person, "practice civility" implies following a broader set of social norms and habitual behaviors.

What can I say instead of "practice civility" in a business setting?

In a professional context, you might use "maintain professional courtesy" or "uphold decorum" to sound more formal.

Is "practice civility" a common phrase?

According to Ludwig AI, it is common in journalism and high-level social commentary but is considered a more deliberate and formal choice than simply saying "be polite".