Is the [partial] statement “Essentially in theory” grammatically correct?

Question

Ok so my full statement was "Essentially in theory, the answer would be yes." Is it grammatically correct, or should I use one or the other [essentially or theory]?

Answer 1

Assuming you mean to qualify the 'yes' both because there are complications and because the theory may not actually apply, you would need to insert a comma after essentially and omit the comma after theory or (much better) rephrase to something like Essentially, the theory would say yes here. At present, in theory only qualifies essentially, which would probably mean that the answer could only be made to be yes by careful manipulation.

Answer 2

It is best to first sort out as best you can what you are trying to say. Why is the answer correct?

When I read 'essentially in theory', I suspect the author has grabbed some words that sound right and tacked them on to their statement that 'the answer is correct'.

If I read 'Essentially the answer is correct' I presume the author means they believe the answer is correct, despite complications. If I read 'In theory the answer is correct' I presume the author believes the answer may not be correct in actual practice, though theory says otherwise.

Why are you qualifying the statement 'The answer is correct'? What more is there about the answer that you need to convey?

Answer 3

Essentially in theory, the answer would be yes

is correct, but it might be better written as

Essentially, the answer would be yes in theory.

Note that essentially and in theory refer to different aspects of the matter.

Answer 4

While more complicated, it is essentially correct grammar, er, in theory that is...

The essence of the subject (that is, in the main gist of it and perhaps not in every minute detail) is totally separate from whether or not it meets up with expectations (in theory.)

There's no contradiction made by specifying both aspects of the theme.