The phrase "theoretical merit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a concept or idea that is noteworthy and commendable in a theoretical sense, without having been tested or proven. For example, "The professor's proposal had much theoretical merit, but lacked practical application."
There is at least some theoretical merit to that when a crime has actually been committed.
The bank said: While an acquisition of RSA would represent a significant change of tack for Aviva's management, it is not without theoretical merit, and could help cement the delivery of the "cash flow plus growth strategy".
This view has theoretical merit — some of my own analysis has been used to support it — but it is asking too much of our political system now to get it just right.
Submissions will undergo the usual refereeing process, and will be evaluated according to expository and theoretical merit.
This argument has theoretical merit, but it, too, is limited in ways that are often unappreciated.
But this theoretical merit is based on the premise that the input signals are wide-sense stationary.
Whatever the theoretical merits and policy dovetails, coalitions do not work in the British political system.
His scholarly interests ranged from abstruse matters such as the theoretical merits of setting a formal inflation target to historical questions, including the causes of the Great Depression.
Reparations, whatever their moral or theoretical merits, are about as likely politically as changing America's national anthem to "The Internationale".
The solutions presented not only bear theoretical merits, but also can serve as benchmarks to clarify various approximate methods.
Much scholarly debate has been devoted to the theoretical merits of using an individual's consumption expenditures as the basis for measuring ability to pay tax.
