a rough calculation of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rough calculation of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that the calculation is not precise and is an estimate rather than an exact figure. Example: "After a rough calculation of the expenses, we determined that we would need to adjust our budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"We can do a rough calculation of the likely costs," Mr. Spratt said in an interview.

The New York Times

A rough calculation of purchasing power parity suggests the correct figure for Chinese defense spending could be double official estimates.

Independent

When the first plutonium bomb was tested on July 16 , 1945 near Alamogordo, N.M., Fermi ingeniously made a rough calculation of its explosive energy by noting how far slips of paper were blown from the vertical.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Somebody did a rough calculation of what we might make, and it wasn't an awful lot," says Christopher Diffey, a 28-year-old Australian tenor who is one of the three Rodolfos and whose impressive rendition of Che Gelida Manina I get to hear at the rehearsal.

The Guardian - Music

At my request, the researcher Benjamin H. Strauss at the organization Climate Central, made a rough calculation of the number of people living within 10 meters, or 33 feet, of sea level: 710 million, or about 12 percent of the world's population.

The New York Times

In America, the biggest and most closely watched market, 16 companies have promised to cut 1.5 trillion calories from their offerings by 2015 (an amount based on a rough calculation of how much the average American should cut from his or her diet to be healthy).

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

On a rough calculation for The Economist by KPMG, getting out of London would be lucrative (see chart 3).

The Economist

A rough calculation is made of the age, height and weight of the victim, whose badly charred body is examined (but not shown).

The New York Times

While Groupon doesn't break out what that means in terms of actual revenues, as a rough calculation North America saw overall revenues of $375 million last quarter, which would work out to $150 million of revenues on mobile for the period.

TechCrunch

The 2011 census recorded 140 million rooms in the UK: a rough calculation says 85 million of those are bedrooms.

The Guardian - Opinion

A rough calculation demonstrates the general intensity of the use of PPPs in Germany: in 2014, 106,155 tonnes PPP containing 34,515 tonnes of active substances (without inert gases) were sold in Germany (BVL, 2015)—this amount has remained largely constant over the past 10 years or has even increased slightly (Fig. 2).

Environmental Sciences Europe

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting a "rough calculation of", clearly state that the figure is approximate and may not be precise. This manages expectations and avoids misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "rough calculation of" as a definitive or exact figure. Always use qualifying language to indicate its approximate nature, such as 'approximately', 'about', or 'roughly'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rough calculation of" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun phrase, modifying the noun 'calculation' to indicate its approximate nature. Ludwig AI shows it is used in different contexts, with several alternative phrases.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

35%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a rough calculation of" is a commonly used expression to indicate an approximate estimation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across various domains, including News & Media and Science. When using this phrase, it's essential to clarify that the figure provided is an approximation, preventing potential misinterpretations. Alternatives such as "a crude estimation of" or "a ballpark estimation of" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. Remember to avoid overstating the accuracy of any figure derived from such a calculation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a crude estimation of

Replaces 'rough calculation' with 'crude estimation', implying a less refined approximation.

an approximate assessment of

Substitutes 'rough calculation' with 'approximate assessment', suggesting a slightly more formal evaluation.

a ballpark estimation of

Uses 'ballpark estimation' instead of 'rough calculation', indicating a general idea of the quantity.

a back-of-the-envelope calculation of

Emphasizes the informality and quick nature of the calculation.

a preliminary estimate of

Suggests the calculation is an initial assessment, likely to be refined later.

a guesstimate of

Combines 'guess' and 'estimate', highlighting the speculative nature of the calculation.

an order-of-magnitude estimate of

Focuses on the scale or power of ten rather than precise figures.

a first-order approximation of

Implies a simplified model or calculation, ignoring finer details.

a quick reckoning of

Highlights the speed and informality of the calculation.

a working estimate of

Suggests the estimate is used for practical planning purposes and may be adjusted.

FAQs

What does "a rough calculation of" mean?

The phrase "a rough calculation of" indicates an approximate or imprecise estimation, often used when precise figures are unavailable or unnecessary. It suggests a quick, simplified calculation to get a general idea.

How can I use "a rough calculation of" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce an approximate figure: "After "a rough calculation of" the potential costs, we decided to proceed with the project."

What are some alternatives to "a rough calculation of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "an approximate assessment of", "a ballpark estimation of", or "a preliminary estimate of", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a rough calculation of" instead of a precise calculation?

Use "a rough calculation of" when a precise figure is not required, when data is limited, or during initial planning stages. It's suitable for getting a general sense of magnitude rather than an exact value.