heuristic vs in the field

heuristic

adj
  • That employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect; not following or derived from any theory. 

  • That provides a useful, but not optimal, solution to a problem. Such algorithms are typically employed either because the only known algorithms that provide optimal solutions use too much time or resources, or else because there is no known algorithm that provides an optimal solution. 

  • That reasons from the value of a method or principle that has been shown by experimental investigation to be a useful aid in learning, discovery and problem-solving. 

noun
  • A heuristic algorithm or method. 

  • A heuristic method. 

  • The art of applying heuristic methods. 

in the field

prep
  • Actively engaged in fighting or dealing with the enemy; in battle or on maneuvers. 

  • Away from the office, classroom, or laboratory; working with people or things in their natural environment. 

  • Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, field. 

  • In a real-world setting, as opposed to the controlled conditions of a laboratory or the hypothesized parameters of a theoretical approach. 

How often have the words heuristic and in the field occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )