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Grammar fix

practical experience

real experience

Knowledge or skills you gain by actually doing something, not just learning about it from books or classes.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • She got practical experience by working part-time in a hospital during her studies.work
  • In my opinion, practical experience is just as important as academic qualifications when applying for a job.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: practical experience (in/of/with) [noun/gerund]

WrongI have many practical experiences.

RightI have a lot of practical experience.

'Experience' in this sense is uncountable — not 'experiences'.

Patternpractical experience (in/of/with) [noun/gerund]

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I possess experience of a hands-on, applied nature.

Natural I've got plenty of practical experience.

'Experience of an applied nature' is clumsy; 'practical' / 'hands-on experience' is natural.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • practical experience
    practical experiencehands-on experiencegainreal-world experience

Don't confuse it

Different from 'theoretical knowledge', which means understanding ideas or facts without actually doing the activity.

Try it in Daily Speak →