in practice
prep. phr..prep. phr.. what actually happens in a real situation, rather than what is supposed to happen according to a plan or rule.
prep. phr.. used to contrast the actual application or reality of a situation with its theoretical, intended, or idealised state.
The plan sounds good, but in practice it is very difficult.
The law says everyone is equal, but in practice some people have more advantages than others.
While the theoretical framework suggests a seamless transition, in practice the administrative hurdles proved insurmountable for the local staff.
often used at the beginning of a sentence or after a comma to introduce a contrast with theory.
teach this alongside 'in theory' as a natural pair to help students express the gap between expectations and reality.
in the practicein practicethe phrase is a fixed idiom and does not take a definite article when referring to reality versus theory.