wherever practical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wherever practical" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something should be done whenever it is possible or suitable. Example: "We strive to use sustainable materials in our products wherever practical."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

You will want to practice in your car, in the shower, wherever practical, before you put down your final vocal tracks.

WikiHow

Perinatal audit systems, which aim to improve quality of care by identifying deficiencies in care, are a quality improvement measure that shows some evidence of benefit for changes in clinical practice that prevent stillbirths, and are strongly recommended wherever practical, whether as hospital case review or as confidential enquiry at district or national level.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Air-conditioning, wherever practical, will be provided.

The Economist

EU law will be transposed into domestic law, wherever practical, on exit day.

The Guardian

Combined with other cumbersome labour laws, "affirmative action" prompts companies to replace people with machines wherever practical.

The Economist

Judge McCabe also published an advisory in two major legal trade papers on Long Island that "strongly encouraged" the use of e-mails wherever practical in correspondence between lawyers, law firms and the Nassau County court system.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"Charging for carrier bags is a great way to raise money for local charities and help the environment and we encourage retailers to introduce their own voluntary charging schemes in stores wherever it is practical to do so," said Mr Lowman.

Independent

The contract demanded that he make "Coca-Cola and our other products (and particularly Minute Maid orange juice) a natural and normal part of your every day life," and that "When playing golf you would purchase Coca-Cola both for yourself and playing companions wherever and whenever practical".

The New York Times - Sports

We need to integrate programs and functions wherever it is practical, to maximize our results for children, and to avoid duplication.

Unicef

Our findings reflect Couchie and Sanderson's [ 26] recommendations that rural Aboriginal communities and health organizations must collaborate to change existing maternity services, and wherever safe and practical, support the return of birthing to rural and remote Aboriginal communities.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Tellingly, JJ Abrams has pledged to return to practical effects wherever possible on his upcoming Star Wars instalments, acknowledging that the models and puppets Muren and his colleagues used in the 1970s still work better.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wherever practical" to indicate a preference for a certain action or approach when circumstances allow it, suggesting flexibility and adaptability in your strategy.

Common error

Avoid using "wherever practical" too frequently in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and context-specific language to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wherever practical" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the circumstances under which an action is performed. As Ludwig AI notes, it is used to express conditionality and adaptability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wherever practical" serves as a versatile adverbial phrase that introduces a condition of feasibility and suitability. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. While generally neutral in tone, writers should be mindful of its potential overuse in excessively formal settings, opting for more precise language when necessary. Related alternatives include "wherever feasible" and "when reasonably possible", offering subtle nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wherever feasible

Replaces 'practical' with 'feasible', suggesting something is possible to do easily or conveniently.

wherever suitable

Replaces 'practical' with 'suitable', focusing on appropriateness for a particular situation.

when it is practical

Rephrases the adverbial clause to emphasize the timing or condition of practicality.

to the extent practical

Indicates that something should be done as much as it is practical to do so, focusing on limitation.

as far as practical

Similar to 'to the extent practical', highlighting the boundary of practicality.

wherever appropriate

Substitutes 'practical' with 'appropriate', shifting the focus to what is fitting or proper.

wherever viable

Replaces 'practical' with 'viable', emphasizing the ability to be sustained or to work successfully.

wherever reasonable

Emphasizes the aspect of being sensible and justifiable in specific situations.

when reasonably possible

Highlights possibility with consideration of reason and good judgment.

wherever it makes sense

Focuses on the logical or sensible aspect of taking action in a particular context.

FAQs

How can I use "wherever practical" in a sentence?

You can use "wherever practical" to indicate that something should be done when it is feasible or suitable. For example, "We aim to reduce waste "wherever practical"".

What's a more formal alternative to "wherever practical"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "to the extent feasible" or "when reasonably possible" instead of ""wherever practical"".

Is "wherever practical" interchangeable with "wherever possible"?

While similar, ""wherever practical"" emphasizes the feasibility and suitability of an action, whereas "wherever possible" simply highlights the possibility of doing it.

What does "wherever practical" imply about the action being described?

The phrase ""wherever practical"" suggests that the action may not always be possible or convenient, but it is desirable when conditions allow it.