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Before and after

In Theory vs in Practice Meme Template

The In Theory vs in Practice meme is used when the plan met reality. Row by row, how a thing is supposed to work and how it really works.

By Tayyab, Founder · Published

Updated .

Make this meme freeSee 13 examples
In Theory vs in Practice meme: Price once, sell forever / Haggling over a pencil / The schedule is fixed / The schedule changes by text at 7am / Lunch is one hour / Lunch is whatever sits by the till
Our recreation of the In Theory vs in Practice format, with a small business caption.

How the In Theory vs in Practice meme works

What it means
Row by row, how a thing is supposed to work and how it really works.
Use it when
The plan met reality.
Also called
In theory vs in practice, in theory, in practice, theory vs practice
How popular
Number 225 of the 257 formats in our library, ranked by how often each is captioned and how often business accounts use it.

Its captions

  1. 1.In theory, row 1up to 50 characters
  2. 2.In practice, row 1up to 50 characters
  3. 3.In theory, row 2up to 50 characters
  4. 4.In practice, row 2up to 50 characters
  5. 5.In theory, row 3 (optional)up to 50 characters
  6. 6.In practice, row 3 (optional)up to 50 characters

Every picture here is our own recreation of the format: the same layout, pose and joke, drawn with generic people. None is the original meme photo, and none shows a celebrity or the person from the original. Some formats are drawn with text and shapes only.

In Theory vs in Practice meme examples for 13 industries

The same format, captioned for each kind of business. Open an industry for its other memes.

  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Theory: closing takes 30 days / Practice: 30 days plus a surprise / Theory: the listing photos are accurate / Practice: wide-angle lens, deep breath / Theory: the seller is out for the showing / Practice: the seller is baking in the kitchen
    Real estate version
    • “Theory: closing takes 30 days”
    • “Practice: 30 days plus a surprise”
    • “Theory: the listing photos are accurate”
    • “Practice: wide-angle lens, deep breath”
    • “Theory: the seller is out for the showing”
    • “Practice: the seller is baking in the kitchen”
    More real estate memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: A 30-minute cleaning / 30 minutes plus 20 of life stories / Patients read the aftercare sheet / The sheet becomes a bookmark / Everyone feels relaxed / Everyone listens for the drill in room 2
    Dental version
    • “A 30-minute cleaning”
    • “30 minutes plus 20 of life stories”
    • “Patients read the aftercare sheet”
    • “The sheet becomes a bookmark”
    • “Everyone feels relaxed”
    • “Everyone listens for the drill in room 2”
    More dental memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: The free week: they try everything / The free week: they try one class / Class starts at 6 / Class starts at 6:07 / Equipment gets wiped after use / A sign asks nicely
    Gym version
    • “The free week: they try everything”
    • “The free week: they try one class”
    • “Class starts at 6”
    • “Class starts at 6:07”
    • “Equipment gets wiped after use”
    • “A sign asks nicely”
    More gym memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Theory: a cut takes 45 minutes / Practice: 45 minutes plus a story / Theory: the color is mixed once / Practice: she changes her mind mid-bowl / Theory: the schedule is perfect / Practice: two late, one early, one confused
    Hair salon version
    • “Theory: a cut takes 45 minutes”
    • “Practice: 45 minutes plus a story”
    • “Theory: the color is mixed once”
    • “Practice: she changes her mind mid-bowl”
    • “Theory: the schedule is perfect”
    • “Practice: two late, one early, one confused”
    More hair salon memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Theory: "We start at 2pm sharp" / Practice: 2:08, form, small talk / Theory: a five-minute consult / Practice: 20 minutes, three tangents / Theory: a calm, spa-like reception / Practice: a phone that never stops
    Med spa version
    • “Theory: "We start at 2pm sharp"”
    • “Practice: 2:08, form, small talk”
    • “Theory: a five-minute consult”
    • “Practice: 20 minutes, three tangents”
    • “Theory: a calm, spa-like reception”
    • “Practice: a phone that never stops”
    More med spa memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: One source of truth for brand assets / Seven folders, all named 'FINAL' / Approve in one round / Round six, with a new stakeholder / Measure everything / Measure what the VP asked about
    Marketing version
    • “One source of truth for brand assets”
    • “Seven folders, all named 'FINAL'”
    • “Approve in one round”
    • “Round six, with a new stakeholder”
    • “Measure everything”
    • “Measure what the VP asked about”
    More marketing memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Price once, sell forever / Haggling over a pencil / The schedule is fixed / The schedule changes by text at 7am / Lunch is one hour / Lunch is whatever sits by the till
    Small business version
    • “Price once, sell forever”
    • “Haggling over a pencil”
    • “The schedule is fixed”
    • “The schedule changes by text at 7am”
    • “Lunch is one hour”
    • “Lunch is whatever sits by the till”
    More small business memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Ships in 1 to 2 days / Ships in 1 to 2 days, if the printer agrees / Customers read the product page / Customers email what the page says / Inventory syncs by itself / I recount the shelf, just in case
    Ecommerce version
    • “Ships in 1 to 2 days”
    • “Ships in 1 to 2 days, if the printer agrees”
    • “Customers read the product page”
    • “Customers email what the page says”
    • “Inventory syncs by itself”
    • “I recount the shelf, just in case”
    More ecommerce memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Code is reviewed by two people / Code is reviewed by one tired person / Staging mirrors production / Staging is vaguely similar / Docs are always up to date / Docs describe version 2.0
    SaaS version
    • “Code is reviewed by two people”
    • “Code is reviewed by one tired person”
    • “Staging mirrors production”
    • “Staging is vaguely similar”
    • “Docs are always up to date”
    • “Docs describe version 2.0”
    More saas memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Talk to ten customers a week / Talk to two, apologize to three / Ship small, ship often / Ship late, ship big, ship scared / Sleep eight hours / Sleep during the demo
    Startup version
    • “Talk to ten customers a week”
    • “Talk to two, apologize to three”
    • “Ship small, ship often”
    • “Ship late, ship big, ship scared”
    • “Sleep eight hours”
    • “Sleep during the demo”
    More startup memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Brief, concept, feedback, final / Brief, concept, feedback, new brief / Timeline: four weeks / Four weeks, plus the eight they took / Everyone reads the brief / Everyone skims it on the call
    Agency version
    • “Brief, concept, feedback, final”
    • “Brief, concept, feedback, new brief”
    • “Timeline: four weeks”
    • “Four weeks, plus the eight they took”
    • “Everyone reads the brief”
    • “Everyone skims it on the call”
    More agency memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Client does the homework weekly / Client does it in the car park / A neat 12-week arc / Week 5 is a surprise detour / Client talks. I listen. / I talk. Then remember to listen.
    Coaching version
    • “Client does the homework weekly”
    • “Client does it in the car park”
    • “A neat 12-week arc”
    • “Week 5 is a surprise detour”
    • “Client talks. I listen.”
    • “I talk. Then remember to listen.”
    More coaching memes
  • In Theory vs in Practice meme: Post at the best time / Post when the edit finally exports / Engage with fans for 30 minutes / Stare at the app for 30 minutes / Batch a month of videos / Batch one, bury it in drafts
    Content creator version
    • “Post at the best time”
    • “Post when the edit finally exports”
    • “Engage with fans for 30 minutes”
    • “Stare at the app for 30 minutes”
    • “Batch a month of videos”
    • “Batch one, bury it in drafts”
    More content creator memes

How to make a In Theory vs in Practice meme

  1. Open the free meme generator with this template.
  2. Write the 6 captions above, a few words each, keeping to what the format means.
  3. Press Make my meme and download the JPG. No signup and no watermark.
  4. To have it written for your brand, Content Drifter suggests three memes from a topic you type, then schedules the one you pick.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does the In Theory vs in Practice meme mean?

Row by row, how a thing is supposed to work and how it really works.

When should I use the In Theory vs in Practice meme?

When the plan met reality. It fits the before and after kind of joke.

How do I caption the In Theory vs in Practice meme?

It has 4 captions: in theory, row 1 (up to 50 characters); in practice, row 1 (up to 50 characters); in theory, row 2 (up to 50 characters); in practice, row 2 (up to 50 characters). Keep each to a few words so the meme reads in a second.

Can I use the In Theory vs in Practice meme for my business?

This format is drawn with text and shapes only, with no one else’s picture in it. Keep the caption honest and free of real people.

A In Theory vs in Practice meme about your business

Type what the joke is about. Content Drifter writes the captions in your brand’s voice on this format and two others, and schedules the one you like.

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