What does "best practice" mean?
"Best practice" means the most effective method established by experience and evidence. Here's how it's used and when it's meaningful vs hollow.
What it means
The most effective, efficient, and commonly accepted way of doing something in a particular field - established through experience, research, or wide adoption.
"Following best practice, we test all code before deployment."
"Industry best practice recommends a three-month notice period."
What makes it "best"
Best practices emerge when many people have tried various approaches and converged on what works. They encode accumulated wisdom.
The problem with "best practice"
It's often invoked without evidence. "This is best practice" can be used to shut down questions rather than answer them. The genuine test: best practice according to whom, based on what evidence?
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Professional. Common in legal, medical, business, and technical contexts.
What does "best practice" mean?
The most effective, efficient, and commonly accepted way of doing something in a particular field - established through experience, research, or wide adoption.
"Following best practice, we test all code before deployment."
"Industry best practice recommends a three-month notice period."
Is "best practice" formal or informal?
Professional. Common in legal, medical, business, and technical contexts.
What's another way to say "best practice"?
- "Standard practice" - what most people do, not necessarily best
- "Good practice" - widely accepted but not the definitive best
- "Industry standard" - the norm in a particular sector
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