a rough budget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rough budget" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an initial estimate of costs that is not precise and may be subject to change. Example: "Before we finalize the project, let's create a rough budget to understand our financial needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

I gave him a rough budget.

The New York Times - Travel

Start by setting a rough budget for giving, and then divide that pie according to the causes and institutions that are most important to you.

The New York Times

DO THE MATH Before you start hitting open houses, sketch out a rough budget based on the 28percentt rule of thumb, using a simple mortgage calculator.

The New York Times

Mr. Cordts said he had a rough budget of $20,000 for Carolyn's Saturday afternoon festivities, not counting the clothes or the Sunday brunch or the Memorial Day barbecue for the 50 to 60 out-of-town guests.

The New York Times

Start by making a list of all the people you expect to buy for, and assign a rough budget for each.

Forbes

Edward Giniger, an associate member of basic sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center FHCRCC) in Seattle, prefers to put together a rough budget before he writes the proposal: "I determine my budget first.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Ultimately, the project was impractical a rough budget suggested that it would cost tens of millions of dollars, far more than de Rothschild thought he could raise from sponsors and he abandoned it.

The New Yorker

The pair approached Honda with a rough, low-budget 30-second trial film inspired by the children's board game Mouse Trap, Caractacus Potts' breakfast-making machine in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and a 1987 Swiss art film by Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Der Lauf der Dinge (The Way Things Go).

Wikipedia

Don't dilly-dally or use the budget as a rough estimate; a budget is a promise, so keep it.

WikiHow

The CERES models could give a rough estimate of N budget in a wheat rotation following a fallow or late-incorporated LCC.

Field Crops Research

— In March, President Trump revealed his "skinny budget," a rough sketch of the nascent administration's fiscal priorities and objectives that included deep cuts to education and nutrition programs.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a rough budget" as a starting point for more detailed financial planning. It helps to identify key areas of spending and potential cost overruns.

Common error

Avoid treating "a rough budget" as a fixed commitment. Always emphasize its preliminary nature to allow for flexibility and prevent misunderstandings about financial constraints.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rough budget" functions as a noun phrase where "rough" acts as a descriptive adjective modifying the noun "budget". It serves to qualify the type of budget being discussed, indicating it's an initial or imprecise financial plan. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rough budget" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a preliminary financial plan. Ludwig confirms its correctness and offers varied examples across News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. Given its preliminary nature, it's crucial to manage expectations by communicating its flexibility and the likelihood of revisions. While the phrase is not overly formal, it is versatile enough for various professional and general discussions. For alternatives, you might consider "a preliminary budget" or "an estimated budget", depending on the specific context. As Ludwig AI suggests, it sets an initial expectation of cost and expenditure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preliminary budget

Emphasizes the budget is a first draft and subject to changes.

an estimated budget

Highlights that the budget is an approximation.

an approximate budget

Similar to estimated, but implies less precision.

a ballpark budget

Suggests a very general and informal estimate.

a tentative budget

Implies the budget is subject to confirmation or change.

a working budget

Indicates the budget is in progress and being developed.

a basic budget

Focuses on the fundamental elements included in the budget.

an initial budget

Highlights the budget as the starting point.

a sketched budget

Suggests a budget that is quickly outlined but not detailed.

a high-level budget

Implies the budget is a summary overview, lacking granular details.

FAQs

What does "a rough budget" mean?

The phrase "a rough budget" refers to an initial or preliminary financial plan that provides an estimate of costs, but is not yet finalized or precise. It is subject to change as more details become available.

How to use "a rough budget" in a sentence?

You can use "a rough budget" when you want to indicate an early-stage financial plan. For example: "Let's create "a rough budget" before committing to the project."

What are some alternatives to saying "a rough budget"?

Alternatives to "a rough budget" include "a preliminary budget", "an estimated budget", or "an approximate budget", each highlighting the inexact nature of the financial plan.

When is it appropriate to use "a rough budget" versus a detailed budget?

"A rough budget" is appropriate in the early stages of planning when only limited information is available. A detailed budget is more suitable when all the specifics are known and a precise financial plan is required.