paperilla

Paperilla is a Finnish adverbial noun meaning "on paper" or "in theory," used to describe a situation or claim as it exists in written documentation rather than in practice. It signals that the described state may not reflect reality.

Etymology: It derives from paperi, meaning "paper," with the adessive suffix -lla, forming paperilla "on paper." In Finnish, this construction is commonly used to mark the hypothetical, ideal, or officially stated version of something, as opposed to its actual state.

Usage: The expression is frequent in journalism, politics, business, and everyday conversation to contrast formal documentation with practical outcomes. Examples: "Sopimus näyttää hyvältä paperilla, mutta käytännössä se ei toimi." "Hankkeen kustannukset ovat suuremmat kuin paperilla arvioitiin." The phrase often appears together with opposing terms such as "käytännössä" or "todellisuudessa" to highlight discrepancies.

See also: The concept of contrasting theory and practice, and related Finnish phrases used in translation contexts. In analyses, paperilla is used to discuss planning and proposals, with attention to how plans may differ from execution.