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On the difference between [[practical]] and [[practicable]]. | {{pe}}On the difference between [[practical]] and [[practicable]]. | ||
*“Practicable” means ''feasible'': able to be done or successfully put into practice: “I planned to build and operate a working model of the Chrysler Building out of cream cheese but the machine-age gargoyles wouldn't keep their shape and the needle kept drooping. I concluded it just wasn't practicable.” | *“Practicable” means ''feasible'': able to be done or successfully put into practice: “I planned to build and operate a working model of the Chrysler Building out of cream cheese but the machine-age gargoyles wouldn't keep their shape and the needle kept drooping. I concluded it just wasn't [[practicable]].” | ||
*“Practical” means ''useful'': “the door to the hen-house came of its hinges but, fortunately, Our Bill is quite [[practical]] | *“Practical” means ''useful'': “the door to the hen-house came of its hinges but, fortunately, Our Bill is quite [[practicable|practical]]: he jury-rigged some chicken wire and an electromagnet, and the chooks don’t go near it now”. | ||
In a legal document, one generally means “[[practicable]]”, and will see it in tiring and emotive phrases like “all [[reasonably practicable]] steps”. Of course you could always use “[[feasible]]”, but that would spoil the fun | In a legal document, one generally means “[[practicable]]”, and will see it in tiring and emotive phrases like “all [[reasonably practicable]] steps” and “[[as soon as reasonably practicable]]”. Of course you could always use “[[feasible]]”, but that would spoil the fun pedants have in pointing out when you have confused “[[practical]]” and “[[practicable]]”, wouldn’t it. | ||
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*“[[As soon as reasonably practicable]]”. Is it any different to “[[immediately]]”? | |||
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