Impractical vs. Impracticable – Which is Correct?
While often confused, impractical and impracticable refer to distinct concepts. Impractical describes something that is not sensible, suitable, or efficient for a given purpose. Impracticable, on the other hand, means something is impossible or extremely difficult to do or carry out. Both are correct words, but their appropriate usage depends entirely on the specific context.
Impractical or Impracticable – Which is Correct?
Both “impractical” and “impracticable” are correct words in American English, but they are not interchangeable. The core difference lies in their nuance: impractical suggests a lack of good sense or effectiveness, while impracticable implies impossibility or extreme difficulty in execution.
An idea or method is impractical if it’s not sensible, efficient, or effective, even if it could theoretically be done. For example, building a house out of marshmallows is impractical because it wouldn’t be sturdy or durable. An action or task is impracticable if it cannot be done or achieved, or if it is extremely difficult to perform. For instance, traveling to the sun would be impracticable due to the extreme heat and distance.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
To remember the difference, focus on the suffixes: “impractical” contains “practical,” relating to what is sensible or effective. “Impracticable” contains “able,” as in “not able” to be done. Think: if it’s impracticable, it’s not able to be done. If it’s impractical, it lacks practical sense or utility.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impractical | Adjective | Not sensible, suitable, or effective; not practical. | His plan to travel the world with only a toothbrush was utterly impractical. |
| Impracticable | Adjective | Impossible or extremely difficult to do or carry out. | Due to the severe weather, a rescue mission to the remote island proved impracticable. |
How to Use Impractical
“Impractical” is an adjective used to describe something that lacks good sense, is not effective, or is not suitable for a particular purpose, even if it’s technically possible to do. It often implies a deficiency in judgment, efficiency, or realism. The tone is generally critical or dismissive of a concept or method.
Example 1: Wearing a full tuxedo to clean the garage would be highly impractical.
Example 2: While an interesting concept, building a city on the moon with current technology is financially impractical.
Example 3: The new filing system proved too complicated and ultimately impractical for daily use by the staff.
What are the different forms of Impractical?
As an adjective, “impractical” can be used in its comparative and superlative forms to indicate degrees of impracticality. These are formed using “more” and “most,” as it is a polysyllabic adjective.
- Positive: impractical
- Comparative: more impractical
- Superlative: most impractical
Etymology of the word Impractical
The word “impractical” comes from the prefix “im-” (meaning “not”) combined with “practical.” “Practical” itself derives from the Late Latin practicālis, from Greek praktikos (“concerned with action,” “fit for action”), which comes from prassein (“to do,” “to act”). Thus, “impractical” literally means “not practical” or “not fit for action/use.”
How to Use Impracticable
“Impracticable” is an adjective that describes something that cannot be done or achieved, or something that is exceedingly difficult to accomplish. It focuses on the feasibility or capability of execution, indicating that an action or plan is impossible or nearly so. The tone is often one of resignation or acknowledgment of insurmountable obstacles.
Example 1: Without a bridge, crossing the raging river at this point was completely impracticable.
Example 2: The CEO concluded that expanding into that volatile market was impracticable given the current political climate.
Example 3: The original deadline became impracticable after several key team members fell ill.
What are the different forms of Impracticable?
Similar to “impractical,” “impracticable” is an adjective and uses “more” and “most” for its comparative and superlative forms.
- Positive: impracticable
- Comparative: more impracticable
- Superlative: most impracticable
Etymology of the word Impracticable
“Impracticable” also uses the prefix “im-” (meaning “not”) and is combined with “practicable.” “Practicable” originated from the Old French practicable and ultimately from the Late Latin practicābilis, meaning “that may be done,” from practicāre (“to practice”). Therefore, “impracticable” means “not able to be done” or “not capable of being carried out.”
Related Concepts
Understanding broader grammatical concepts, particularly those related to adjectives and prefixes, can help clarify the distinction between “impractical” and “impracticable.”
- Adjectives: Both “impractical” and “impracticable” function as adjectives, modifying nouns to provide more information about their qualities. Recognizing their adjectival role helps in understanding how they describe the nature of a plan, idea, or task.
- Prefixes (im-): The prefix “im-” (a variant of “in-“) universally means “not” or “opposite of.” Its consistent meaning in both words highlights that the core difference lies in the base words (“practical” vs. “practicable”), not the negation itself.
Examples from Media and Literature
- In a discussion about utopian societies, one might argue, “While the vision is noble, some of the proposed policies are entirely impractical in a real-world economy.”
- A historical account might state, “The general realized that a frontal assault on the fortified position was impracticable and opted for a flanking maneuver.”
- A business analyst might write, “The initial project timeline proved impracticable due to unforeseen supply chain disruptions.”
- A lifestyle blogger could comment, “Living completely off the grid without any modern conveniences, while appealing to some, can be quite impractical for most families.”
- A scientist reporting on a failed experiment might conclude, “Attempting to replicate those conditions in our lab was simply impracticable with the available equipment.”
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
- Her idea of commuting by unicycle seemed charming but ultimately _________ for a busy city.
- After the bridge collapsed, reaching the village by road became _________ for several weeks.
- The architect’s design was beautiful, yet the cost of materials made its construction _________.
- Due to the sheer volume of data, manually reviewing every entry was _________ for the small team.
- While theoretically possible, launching a manned mission to Jupiter is currently _________ given the technological and financial hurdles.
Answer Key
- impractical
- impracticable
- impractical
- impracticable
- impracticable
Impractical Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Unrealistic | Not realistic or sensible. |
| Unworkable | Not capable of being put into practice or of being done or used successfully. |
| Inefficient | Not achieving maximum productivity; wasting time or resources. |
| Senseless | Lacking meaning, sense, or purpose; foolish. |
Impracticable Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Impossible | Not able to be done; not possible. |
| Unfeasible | Impractical or impossible to achieve. |
| Unachievable | Not able to be brought about or reached successfully. |
| Unworkable | Not capable of being put into practice or of being done or used successfully. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Can something be both impractical and impracticable?
Yes, it’s possible. A plan could be so ridiculously complicated and expensive that it’s both impractical (lacking common sense and efficiency) and ultimately impracticable (impossible to execute due to its complexity or cost).
Question 2: Which word is more commonly used?
“Impractical” is significantly more common in everyday language than “impracticable.” This is likely because we more frequently encounter situations that lack good sense or efficiency than those that are truly impossible to achieve.
Question 3: How do “impractical” and “impracticable” relate to “unrealistic”?
“Unrealistic” is often a synonym for “impractical,” describing something that is not realistic or sensible. While a plan might be unrealistic (impractical), it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s impossible to do (impracticable). For example, an unrealistic goal might still be achievable with immense effort, whereas an impracticable goal cannot be achieved at all.
Conclusion
The distinction between “impractical” and “impracticable” lies at the heart of their meanings: one speaks to sensibility and effectiveness, the other to possibility and feasibility. While a plan might be impractical due to its inefficiency or lack of wisdom, it is impracticable only if it literally cannot be carried out. Mastering this difference enhances precision in communication.
Pro Tip: Using the correct word demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of English nuances. Misusing these terms can unintentionally alter the meaning of your message, potentially undermining your professional credibility.
