Meaning & use
real world experiences
Last updated
Meanings
phraseplural
Things you have actually done or seen in ordinary life, not just learned from books or theory.
Grammar: Countable plural phrase; use it with a plural verb: Real world experiences are valuable.
Patterns
- have real world experiences
- gain real world experiences
- real world experiences in something
The internship gave her real world experiences in marketing that no class could provide.
Employers often prefer candidates with real world experiences over those with only academic knowledge.
His real world experiences of living abroad helped him understand different cultures.
phraseuncountable
Knowledge or skill gained by doing something in a real situation rather than in a controlled or artificial one.
Grammar: When referring to the general quality, use the singular form 'real world experience' without 'a' or a plural verb: She has real world experience.
Patterns
- real world experience of something
- real world experience in doing something
- lack real world experience
The course combines theory with real world experience through a mandatory work placement.
You need real world experience to understand how businesses actually operate.
Her real world experience of teaching in a crowded classroom was very different from her training.
Common combinations
- gain real world experience
- Students gain real world experience by volunteering at local charities.
- valuable real world experience
- The job offer came because of her valuable real world experience.
- real world experience in
- He has real world experience in software development.
- lack of real world experience
- The main criticism was his lack of real world experience.
Synonyms and how they differ
- practical experience
- Focuses on doing things with your hands or in practice, often in a specific job; real world experience is broader and includes everyday life situations.
- hands-on experience
- Emphasizes direct involvement and physical doing; real world experience can also include observing or living through events.
- work experience
- Usually refers specifically to time spent in a job or workplace; real world experience can come from travel, family, or other non-work situations.
Opposites
Word family
- real-world adjective
- Used before a noun to mean relating to actual life, not ideas: real-world problems.
- experience noun
- The base word, meaning knowledge or skill from doing things.
Commonly confused: real world experiences or real-life experiences?
real world experiences vs real-life experiences
Real-life experiences often refers to personal events in your own life, while real world experiences often contrasts with academic or simulated settings.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 is correct because 'experiences' is a countable plural and 'in' is the usual preposition after it. Option 1 is wrong because 'many' needs a plural noun. Option 2 is wrong because 'a' cannot be used with a plural. Option 3 is grammatically possible but less common; 'in' is the standard preposition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “real world experiences”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.