real purchase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "real purchase" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an actual transaction or acquisition of a product or service, distinguishing it from a hypothetical or planned purchase. Example: "After weeks of research, I finally made a real purchase and bought the laptop I had been eyeing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

So the real purchase price of the Google deal might be closer to $8.5 billion or less.

The New York Times

It means seeking out more marginal and idiosyncratic voices, whose views are often worth pondering precisely because they have no real purchase on our political debates.

The New York Times

The woman said, "She's hanging on freaking slopers" — that is, Ashima was resting straight-armed on rounded holds that seemed to offer no real purchase.

The New Yorker

They are studies of the kinds of inflexibility they embody; they examine what it means to have a policy toward life but no real purchase on it.

The New Yorker

The pain at the conclusion of the love affair — its product — is the real purchase, the true price, and there's no way of taking it back to the store for credit.

The New Yorker

If the Tyneside response to its challenge is to take a picture out of an exhibition then it's absurd to claim art has any real purchase on British majority culture.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The income figures represent real purchasing power.

The New York Times - Magazine

This can also be understood as the real purchasing power of the money stock.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The minimum wage that year was at its historic high, in terms of real purchasing power.

The Guardian - Opinion

Final demand -- real purchases by companies, governments and individuals -- expanded just 1.9percentt.

The New York Times

"We now have real purchasing power and the ability to be selective about what we buy".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial transactions, use "real purchase" to distinguish it from hypothetical or planned expenditures, ensuring clarity in your analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "real purchase" when you specifically mean buying property; instead, use the accurate term "real estate purchase" to prevent any ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "real purchase" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "real" modifies the noun "purchase", emphasizing that the transaction is genuine and not hypothetical. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "real purchase" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an actual transaction, distinguishing it from hypothetical or planned purchases. It functions as a noun phrase, combining the adjective "real" with the noun "purchase" to emphasize the genuineness of the transaction. Usage is frequent in contexts like News & Media and Science, as shown by Ludwig. To ensure precision, avoid confusing it with similar phrases like "real estate purchase", and use alternatives such as "actual purchase" or "genuine transaction" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

actual acquisition

Replaces "purchase" with "acquisition" and "real" with "actual", focusing on the act of gaining something.

genuine transaction

Substitutes "real" with "genuine" and "purchase" with "transaction", highlighting the authenticity of the exchange.

bona fide acquisition

Uses the Latin term "bona fide" for "real" and "acquisition" for "purchase", adding a formal tone.

veritable procurement

Replaces "real" with "veritable" and "purchase" with "procurement", suggesting a formal or official acquisition.

authentic buying

Emphasizes the act of "buying" and its "authentic" nature instead of using the more formal term "purchase".

tangible procurement

Uses "tangible" to highlight the concrete and verifiable nature of the "procurement".

legitimate acquisition

Replaces "real" with "legitimate", focusing on the legality and validity of the acquisition.

valid transaction

Highlights that the transaction is "valid" and sound, rather than simply "real".

concrete acquisition

Replaces "real" with "concrete", focusing on the tangible and definite nature of the acquisition.

true procurement

Substituting "real" with "true" puts more emphasis on its accuracy and validity.

FAQs

How can I use "real purchase" in a sentence?

You can use "real purchase" to emphasize that an actual transaction has taken place, as opposed to a hypothetical one. For example, "The company's profits increased after the "real purchase" of new equipment".

What can I say instead of "real purchase"?

Alternatives include "actual purchase", "genuine transaction", or "bona fide acquisition" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "real purchase" and "real purchasing power"?

"Real purchase" refers to an actual buying event, while "real purchasing power" refers to the value of money in terms of what it can buy.

Is "real purchase" the same as "real estate purchase"?

No, "real purchase" is a general term for any actual transaction, while "real estate purchase" specifically refers to buying property.