A hypothesis thus, tends to have conceptual links with the future, either in terms of the discovery of new information or in terms of progressing ideas. A theory is a set of reasoned ideas intended to explain facts or events. For example , Darwin's theory of evolution. Often two or more theories exist to explain the same set of circumstances, for example , Big Bang versus Steady State theory in Physics. Theory is often contrasted with practice.
Theory refers to ideas or suppositions and practice refers to what actually happens, events.
In some cases, theory is used more generally to refer to a set of ideas. For example, economic theory, music theory. Sussex Language Institute 1998-2000. Web version by Matthew Platts .