Learn English – Practical use or practical usage

word-choiceword-usage

When should Practical use or practical usage should be used and what are the differences?

Best Answer

A general principal of language is try the simplest solution first, and only when that fails try a more complex solution. Simpler word forms also tend to (or as a result) have wider usage than more complex forms.

'Use' tends to describe the normal passage of an action, so we might say that a hammer is of practical use. It is 'useful', or 'full of use'.

'Usage' tends to describe where the use applies, and as such finds great use in language description. So we might say that we find practical usage of the word 'usage' in describing word use.