standard practice

USAGE SUMMARY

'standard practice' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a procedure that people do routinely, without a lot of discussion or hesitation. For example: "Whenever there is an accident on the job, filing a safety report is standard practice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's standard practice".

The Guardian

"This is standard practice.

The Guardian

Collaboration is standard practice.

The New York Times

That is standard practice here.

The New York Times

It is absolutely standard practice".

The Guardian - Business

Gift exchanges are standard practice.

The Guardian

Is this a standard practice?

The New York Times - Tech

There is no standard practice.

The Washington Post

Now it's a standard practice.

Columbia University

Everything we did was standard practice".

The New York Times

"This is standard practice," he explained.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing deviations from "standard practice", explicitly state the reasons for the change and the potential impact of not following established norms.

Common error

Avoid using "standard practice" when you actually mean "best practice". "Standard practice" simply means what is commonly done, not necessarily what is most effective or ideal. To avoid errors, only use it to refer to common or usual procedures, not superior ones.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "standard practice" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes a customary or commonly accepted way of doing something within a particular context or field. The Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

17%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

19%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "standard practice" is a widely used noun phrase that describes a customary or generally accepted way of doing something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase is commonly found in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business settings. To ensure accuracy, avoid confusing "standard practice" with "best practice", which implies a higher level of effectiveness. Alternatives include "common procedure", "typical method", and "established norm". Remember that questioning "standard practice" can often lead to innovation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common procedure

Focuses on the routine aspect of the activity.

typical method

Emphasizes the usual way of doing something.

established norm

Highlights the accepted and customary nature of the action.

usual custom

Refers to the habitual or traditional way of doing things.

routine process

Focuses on the repetitive and predictable nature of the activity.

accepted convention

Stresses the agreement and widespread adoption of the practice.

prevailing approach

Highlights the current and dominant way of handling something.

normal course of action

Emphasizes the expected sequence of steps in a given situation.

customary manner

Refers to the traditional and expected way of performing a task.

conventional wisdom

Focuses on the widely held belief or understanding about how something should be done.

FAQs

How can I use "standard practice" in a sentence?

You can use "standard practice" to describe commonly accepted procedures or methods within a specific field. For example, "In the medical field, washing hands before surgery is "standard practice"."

What's the difference between "standard practice" and "best practice"?

"Standard practice" refers to what is commonly done, while "best practice" refers to the most effective or ideal method. While they may sometimes overlap, "best practice" implies a higher level of efficiency or quality compared to "standard practice".

What are some alternatives to saying "standard practice"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "common procedure", "typical method", or "established norm" instead of "standard practice".

Is it appropriate to question a "standard practice"?

Yes, questioning "standard practice" is often necessary for innovation and improvement. Just because something is commonly done doesn't mean it's the best way. Challenging norms can lead to the discovery of more effective or efficient methods.