take practical action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take practical action" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the process of taking steps to achieve a goal. For example, "If we're going to meet our deadline, we need to take practical action now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The French New Wave came into being when several young critics on the influential magazine Cahiers du Cinéma decided to take practical action in their battle against the more traditional films made by an earlier generation, which they dubbed the Cinéma du Papa.

The Guardian - Film

Before the meeting in Llanidloes he said the Welsh government would take practical action to help farmers who had lost stock.

BBC

If re-elected, Ms Berger says she would "take practical action to support people who are looking for a job, for example by holding another jobs fair to bring together employers and local people.

BBC

Fujitsu is also "to save the computer industry climate action plan" (Climate Savers Computing Initiative) members, and take practical action to defend the Earth and effectively contribute energy and corporate responsibility.

TechCrunch

Thankfully, this year's climate conference wasn't all talk, and COP21 concluded with the milestone creation of the Paris Agreement, a call to arms for the countries of the United Nations to join together and take practical action against climate change.

Vice

Determined to transform myself into one of those people who are so cheerful you can't even bring yourself to hate them, I got in touch with Alex Nunn, who leads campaigns at Action for Happiness, a charity aiming to "help take practical action to improve mental wellbeing and to create a happier and more caring society".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

In the Middle East, we agree that all parties must take practical actions to ease tensions so that peace talks can resume.

The New York Times

On Friday, South Korea said it would press ahead with the drills which it says are defensive in nature and demanded that North Korea take "practical" actions for nuclear disarmament if it truly wants peace on the peninsula.

Independent

In fact, it would be completely unreasonable for a decision-maker to take practical actions that impact on society and that are unrelated to alert level changes.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

However, drivers do not always utilise the guidance available to them appropriately, a challenge which was circumvented in the Helsinki tram system by training all staff in public transport, energy and environmental issues, so as to help motivate drivers and other staff to take practical actions for the environment, a scheme which proved to be successful.

Urban Rail Transit

"The instinct to care for children comes from deep within the teachings and spiritual vision of all religious traditions, which motivates people of faith to make the commitment to take practical actions for children.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take practical action", ensure the action is clearly defined and directly addresses the problem or goal. Avoid vague or abstract actions.

Common error

Avoid using "take practical action" without specifying what the action entails. For instance, instead of saying "We need to take practical action," specify "We need to implement a new training program."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take practical action" functions as a call to action, urging the implementation of realistic and feasible steps to address a particular situation. It's a directive to move beyond discussion and engage in concrete activities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Reference

6%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take practical action" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to urge concrete steps towards solving a problem. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Its neutral tone makes it appropriate for a wide range of contexts, including news, business, and scientific discussions. When using the phrase, it's essential to define the specific actions being advocated to avoid vagueness. Related phrases include "take concrete action" and "implement effective measures". While the phrase is frequently found in news and media sources, it is valuable to specify the plan of action so the listener/reader knows what needs to be achieved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take concrete action

Replaces "practical" with "concrete", emphasizing the tangibility and definiteness of the action.

take decisive action

Substitutes "practical" with "decisive", highlighting the resoluteness and impact of the action.

implement effective measures

Replaces "take action" with "implement measures", shifting the focus to the execution of specific steps.

adopt a pragmatic approach

Uses "adopt a pragmatic approach" instead, emphasizing a realistic and practical way of dealing with a situation.

put measures into practice

Replaces "take action" with "put into practice", focusing on the application and execution of existing plans.

take purposeful steps

Replaces action with steps and emphasizes that those steps should have the main scope of achieving a specific purpose.

initiate tangible measures

Focuses on beginning actions that produce real, measurable outcomes.

undertake realistic actions

Changes "take" to "undertake" and uses "realistic" for a more achievable actions.

move forward with implementation

Emphasizes progression and the act of putting plans into effect.

apply actionable strategies

Highlights the use of strategies designed for action.

FAQs

How can I use "take practical action" in a sentence?

You can use "take practical action" to emphasize the need for concrete steps to address a problem. For example, "To reduce our carbon footprint, we must "take practical action" by investing in renewable energy".

What are some alternatives to "take practical action"?

Alternatives include "take concrete action", "implement effective measures", or "adopt a pragmatic approach" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "take practical action" or "take practical actions"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "take practical action" is often used when referring to a general approach, while "take practical actions" is used when referring to specific steps. "Take practical actions" can also sounds more natural, depending on what you want to communicate.

What's the difference between "take practical action" and "take action"?

"Take action" is a broader term, while "take practical action" specifies that the actions should be realistic, feasible, and directly relevant to the situation. "Take action" may include theoretical or abstract steps, while "take practical action" emphasizes real-world application.