to the extent practical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to the extent practical" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing limitations or conditions under which something can be done, emphasizing practicality. Example: "We will implement the new policy to the extent practical, considering our current resources and constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

If so, the notice and comment procedures outlined above will be followed to the extent practical.

Cornell University

To the extent practical, any known harmful effect from a violation of the Privacy Rule or the Security Rule or a security incident will be mitigated.

Stanford University

The Secretary or agency head shall take into consideration and to the extent practical comply with State standards for right-of-way construction, operation, and maintenance.

Cornell University

This evidence shall be determined, to the extent practical, by a procedure similar to that required in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.

Cornell University

To the extent practical, the Administrator shall develop methods to determine or reveal whether any component or security feature of a license issued under subsection (a) has been tampered, altered, or counterfeited.

Cornell University

Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Gerald E. Connelly claimed that the policies of the pending right-leaning government in Israel "undermine basic Palestinian human rights". The Israeli government guarantees the basic human rights of all its citizens, including its Arab Palestinian citizens, and to the extent practical to the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

In addition, a law passed by Congress in 1988 requires federal agencies to follow local building codes and zoning ordinances "to the fullest extent practical". "They're making no effort, absolutely zero, to comply with this law," Asta says.

Los Angeles Times

changes to the reporting requirements authorized under section 315, to reflect recommendations under this paragraph for collection, storage, analysis, reporting, and display of data for Federal-aid highways and, to the maximum extent practical, all public roads.

Cornell University

If the analogy goes through, action in Korsgaard's sense is inevitable only to the extent that practical pressures on human agency are such as to make totalitarian rather than, say, market-like approaches to the organization of individual activity mandatory.

SEP

Although this is true to a certain extent, practical initiatives need to be introduced to ensure behaviour management is working well.

The Guardian

Theoretical knowledge and, to some extent, practical skills can be assessed by examinations or more complex tests.

European Radiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to the extent practical", clearly define what 'practical' means in your specific context to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify resource limitations, time constraints, or other relevant factors that determine the extent of practicality.

Common error

Avoid using "to the extent practical" as a vague promise without concrete plans or realistic assessments. Ensure actions are genuinely feasible, rather than merely aspirational, to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to the extent practical" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the degree to which an action is feasible or realistically possible. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

40%

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to the extent practical" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to express that an action should be performed as much as possible, given existing constraints. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts, including academia, news media, and science. The phrase is generally considered neutral to formal. Alternatives such as "as far as possible" or "as much as feasible" offer similar meanings, with slight variations in emphasis. When using the phrase, it's crucial to define what "practical" means in the specific context to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insofar as is practicable

This alternative is a more formal way of saying "to the extent practical", emphasizing the feasibility of implementation.

as far as possible

This alternative focuses on the limit of possibility, emphasizing that the action should be performed to the maximum degree achievable.

to the degree possible

Similar to "as far as possible", this stresses performing an action to its highest potential degree.

as much as feasible

This highlights the feasibility aspect, suggesting that actions should be taken only if they are realistically executable.

as far as is implementable

This focuses specifically on the ability to put something into effect or action.

wherever applicable

This emphasizes situations where the action is relevant and can be put into practice.

subject to available resources

This highlights that the action depends on the resources at hand and can only be done if the resources permit.

within reasonable limits

This phrase underscores the presence of boundaries that should not be exceeded while performing the action.

as best as one can

This focuses on the effort and capability of the person performing the action, suggesting they should do their utmost.

considering the circumstances

This emphasizes that actions should be tailored to the situation at hand and the constraints it imposes.

FAQs

How can I use "to the extent practical" in a sentence?

Use "to the extent practical" to indicate that an action will be performed as much as possible, considering limitations or constraints. For example, "We will implement the new safety measures "as far as possible" given our current resources."

What are some alternatives to "to the extent practical"?

Alternatives include "as much as feasible", "wherever applicable", or "within reasonable limits", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What does "to the extent practical" imply about the action being described?

It implies that the action is subject to certain limitations and may not be fully realized due to real-world constraints. The phrase suggests a balance between aspiration and feasibility.

Is "to the extent practical" formal or informal?

The phrase "to the extent practical" is generally considered appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very informal settings, simpler alternatives like "as far as possible" might be preferred.