Terms like “theoretically” or “in theory” are over used, and often used inappropriately Most of the time, the term “hypothetically” is a more appropriate term for what they mean. For example, people say things like “I have a theory that…”, when it would be more appropriate to say “I have a hypothesis that…”
My question is, when is it *actually* appropriate to use a phrase like “in theory” or “theoretically”? Please give an example when you answer.
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I’d argue that it’s appropriate in most of the cases where it gets used. “Theory” has a colloquial meaning outside of specifically scientific contexts, and the usage of “theoretically” is consistent with that: basically any time you’re trying to convey that something appears to be true based on logic or other principles but hasn’t necessarily been shown in actual practice.
If you’re using it *specifically* in the context of a scientific conversation, maybe constrain it to references to actual, specific theories. “Theoretically [according to Quantum Field Theory], all particles have associated fields.” Outside of an explicitly scientific conversation, go ham.
When something is backed up by an actual theory. Hypothetically refers to a hypothesis, which is your guess based in limited evidence on how a situation would go. A theory is more than just a hunch, it is an explanation that is backed up using the scientific process and can be used make models that accurately describe the how something works. e.g. theoretically, you can see stars that are actually behind the sun during a solar eclipse because the theory of relativity states the sun’s gravity can bend light.
I’d argue that it’s appropriate in most of the cases where it gets used. “Theory” has a colloquial meaning outside of specifically scientific contexts, and the usage of “theoretically” is consistent with that: basically any time you’re trying to convey that something appears to be true based on logic or other principles but hasn’t necessarily been shown in actual practice.
If you’re using it *specifically* in the context of a scientific conversation, maybe constrain it to references to actual, specific theories. “Theoretically [according to Quantum Field Theory], all particles have associated fields.” Outside of an explicitly scientific conversation, go ham.
I’d argue that it’s appropriate in most of the cases where it gets used. “Theory” has a colloquial meaning outside of specifically scientific contexts, and the usage of “theoretically” is consistent with that: basically any time you’re trying to convey that something appears to be true based on logic or other principles but hasn’t necessarily been shown in actual practice.
If you’re using it *specifically* in the context of a scientific conversation, maybe constrain it to references to actual, specific theories. “Theoretically [according to Quantum Field Theory], all particles have associated fields.” Outside of an explicitly scientific conversation, go ham.
When something is backed up by an actual theory. Hypothetically refers to a hypothesis, which is your guess based in limited evidence on how a situation would go. A theory is more than just a hunch, it is an explanation that is backed up using the scientific process and can be used make models that accurately describe the how something works. e.g. theoretically, you can see stars that are actually behind the sun during a solar eclipse because the theory of relativity states the sun’s gravity can bend light.
Theoretically, you can use it any time you like. In practice it isn’t always theoretically appropriate.
Theoretically, you can use it any time you like. In practice it isn’t always theoretically appropriate.
Theoretically, humans and chimpanzees have a common ancestor.
Hypothetically that ancestor lived 8 million years ago.
When something is backed up by an actual theory. Hypothetically refers to a hypothesis, which is your guess based in limited evidence on how a situation would go. A theory is more than just a hunch, it is an explanation that is backed up using the scientific process and can be used make models that accurately describe the how something works. e.g. theoretically, you can see stars that are actually behind the sun during a solar eclipse because the theory of relativity states the sun’s gravity can bend light.
Theoretically, you can use it any time you like. In practice it isn’t always theoretically appropriate.
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