Best Practice vs. Best Practices – Which is Correct?
“Best practice” is singular and names one recommended method, standard, or procedure. “Best practices” is plural and refers to multiple recommended methods or an established body of guidance. Both forms are correct American English; choose the singular for one approach and the plural for several approaches or a broader framework.
Best Practice or Best Practices – Which is Correct?
Best practice and best practices are both correct American English expressions. The difference is grammatical number and meaning. Use best practice when referring to one recommended method or procedure. Use best practices when discussing two or more recommended methods, a collection of standards, or a broader system of professional guidance.
The expression does not necessarily mean that a method is universally perfect. In many fields, a best practice is an approach widely considered effective because it is supported by experience, evidence, expert agreement, or industry standards. Since circumstances differ, organizations should review whether a recognized best practice suits their specific goals.
Because a best practice names a recommended method, distinguishing Method vs. Process can sharpen technical explanations.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the one-versus-many test: if you could replace the phrase with “one recommended method,” choose best practice. If you mean “several recommended methods” or “a collection of guidance,” choose best practices. The final -s in practices signals more than one.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| best practice | Singular noun phrase | One recommended method or procedure | Encrypting customer data is a best practice. |
| best practices | Plural noun phrase | Multiple recommended methods or a body of guidance | The team follows cybersecurity best practices. |
How to Use Best Practice
Best practice is a singular noun phrase. Use it when identifying one action, policy, technique, or procedure that is considered especially effective or advisable. It commonly appears after articles and determiners, such as a, the, or this. It is suitable in professional, academic, technical, business, and everyday contexts, although it often has a formal or specialized tone.
It can also function before another noun as a modifier, as in best-practice guidance or best-practice standards. In this attributive use, many style guides hyphenate the phrase when it directly modifies a noun.
Example 1: Backing up important files regularly is a best practice for protecting against data loss.
Example 2: The organization adopted a best practice for documenting customer complaints.
Example 3: One best practice in public speaking is to rehearse the opening several times.
Etymology of the word best practice
Best practice combines the superlative adjective best with the noun practice. The expression became especially prominent in management, business, education, healthcare, and information technology during the twentieth century. It describes a method regarded as more effective or reliable than available alternatives, often based on professional experience or evidence.
How to Use Best Practices
Best practices is the plural form of best practice. Use it when referring to multiple recommended methods or to a recognized collection of standards within a profession or activity. The phrase is especially common in expressions such as industry best practices, security best practices, best practices guide, and best practices for remote work.
Although the plural expression can refer to several specific techniques, it is also frequently used as a broad, uncounted concept. For example, a company may publish “best practices” even when the document contains a long list of recommendations rather than a precisely counted set.
Example 1: The training course covers best practices for managing confidential information.
Example 2: Engineers reviewed the industry’s best practices before designing the new system.
Example 3: These best practices help remote teams communicate clearly and consistently.
Etymology of the word best practices
Best practices is the plural development of best practice. As organizations began comparing successful methods across teams, industries, and countries, the plural form became widely used for collections of recommended procedures. Its modern popularity grew alongside management consulting, quality assurance, technology standards, and evidence-based professional guidance.
Related Concepts
Understanding number, countability, and professional terminology makes it easier to choose between best practice and best practices.
- Singular and plural nouns: A singular noun refers to one item, while a plural noun generally refers to more than one. The final -s in practices marks the plural form.
- Count nouns: Practice can be a count noun when it means a particular method or activity, as in “one practice” or “several practices.”
- Attributive nouns: Nouns can modify other nouns. In best-practice recommendations, the phrase describes the type of recommendations being discussed.
- Industry standards: A best practice may be an informal recommendation, while a standard can be a more formally documented or required rule.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how writers and organizations use the two forms in realistic contexts:
- Business reporting: An article about workplace culture may describe transparent communication as a best practice for building employee trust.
- Technology journalism: A cybersecurity report may recommend using multifactor authentication as a best practice for securing online accounts.
- Healthcare writing: Clinical guidance may present several best practices for reducing infection risks in medical settings.
- Educational materials: A teaching handbook may identify regular formative assessment as a best practice while outlining broader best practices for classroom instruction.
- Fictional professional dialogue: In a workplace novel or film, a manager might tell a colleague that documenting decisions is a best practice, then distribute a list of departmental best practices.
Best Practice Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Recommended method | A method advised because it is considered effective or appropriate. |
| Preferred approach | A way of doing something that is favored over alternatives. |
| Sound practice | A reliable or sensible method, often used in formal writing. |
| Effective procedure | A sequence of actions that produces a desirable result. |
Best Practices Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Recommended methods | Several methods advised for achieving a desired result. |
| Industry standards | Widely accepted expectations or procedures within a field. |
| Guidelines | General recommendations that help people make consistent decisions. |
| Standard procedures | Established processes used to produce consistent outcomes. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “best practice” singular or plural?
“Best practice” is singular. It refers to one recommended method or procedure. For more than one method, use “best practices.”
Question 2: Is “best practices” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Best practices” is the correct plural form of “best practice” and is widely used in professional, technical, academic, and business writing.
Question 3: Should I write “best practice” or “best practices” in a sentence?
Use “best practice” for one approach: “Clear documentation is a best practice.” Use “best practices” for multiple approaches or a general collection of guidance: “The guide explains best practices for documentation.”
Question 4: Is “best practice” always the same as a rule?
No. A best practice is usually a recommendation supported by experience, evidence, or professional agreement. A rule, law, regulation, or mandatory standard may be legally or organizationally required.
Question 5: Should “best practice” be hyphenated?
When it modifies another noun directly, best-practice is often hyphenated, as in “best-practice guidance.” When it functions as a noun phrase, it is normally written without a hyphen: “This is a best practice.” Follow the style guide used by your organization.
Conclusion
Best practice is correct for one recommended method, while best practices is correct for multiple methods or a broader collection of guidance. Both expressions are valid, so the choice depends on whether you mean one approach or several. Pro Tip: Choosing the correct singular or plural form makes professional writing clearer and strengthens your credibility.
