a rough comparison

USAGE SUMMARY

"a rough comparison" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "This is only a rough comparison, but it gives us an idea of what the results may be."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

UFJ did not provide equivalent consolidated profit and bad-loan figures from a year earlier but as a rough comparison its main units earned a net profit of 132.2 billion yen in the same quarter last year.

The New York Times

So comparing 2014 to 1804 (the Jefferson example) should be considered a rough comparison at best.

The Washington Post

A rough comparison of specific energy consumption was also evaluated to compare between the photochemical processes.

Desalination

Extrapolate that to IndyMac's servicing business as a rough comparison, and it implies a value of roughly $3 billion.

The New York Times

However, a rough comparison of the sensitivity of the methods can be made if these aspects are kept in mind.

Nature

To share a rough comparison, on a day when I write between meetings, I'll produce maybe 500 words a day.

Harvard Business Review

Finally, a rough comparison of the stack sizes needed by the two concepts is made through an illustrative design example.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

As a rough comparison, computations that would take 250 hours on a conventional computer take about 10 hours on the DGX-1.

MIT Technology Review

William Hartung, author of the study, said a rough comparison showed this exceeded the number of industry-related appointees in either the Clinton administration or the administration of the first President Bush.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

In addition, she points out that helmets can't stop the movement of the brain, which can occur even if you don't directly hit your head: "As a very rough comparison, you can't stop an egg yolk from shaking even if the shell doesn't break," she explained.

Columbia University

For a (very) rough comparison to different types of media, Broockman tells us "mail campaigns have been shown to persuade 3 points, TV 3-5 points, radio 6 points, and the candidate knocking on your door and talking to you ~40 points (yes, forty; personal contact is king)." This doesn't mean Facebook is ineffective.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a rough comparison" when you want to provide a general sense of scale or magnitude, without getting bogged down in details.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a rough comparison" as a definitive analysis. Ensure the language reflects the approximate nature of the comparison to prevent misleading interpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rough comparison" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as an introductory element to qualify a subsequent statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rough comparison" is a frequently used phrase to introduce an approximate or inexact similarity. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and useful across various domains, primarily in science and news media. While widely accepted, it's essential to acknowledge the limitations of such comparisons and avoid presenting them as definitive analyses. For more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "an approximate comparison" or "a preliminary comparison" to maintain precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an approximate comparison

Substitutes "rough" with "approximate", emphasizing the inexact nature of the comparison.

a general comparison

Replaces "rough" with "general", indicating a lack of specific details in the comparison.

a broad comparison

Similar to "general comparison", but suggests a comparison across a wide range of aspects.

a basic comparison

Highlights the elementary nature of the comparison, lacking complexity.

a preliminary comparison

Suggests that the comparison is an initial step and may be followed by a more detailed analysis.

a superficial comparison

Indicates that the comparison only scratches the surface and lacks depth.

a quick comparison

Emphasizes the speed and lack of thoroughness in the comparison.

a back-of-the-envelope comparison

Implies the comparison is based on quick calculations and estimations, rather than precise data.

a ballpark comparison

Similar to "back-of-the-envelope", indicating an estimation rather than a precise calculation.

a tentative comparison

Suggests that the comparison is provisional and subject to change based on further information.

FAQs

How can I use "a rough comparison" in a sentence?

You can use "a rough comparison" to introduce an inexact but informative similarity, such as: "As "a rough comparison", the budget of this project is about half of the previous one".

What phrases can I use instead of "a rough comparison"?

Alternatives include "an approximate comparison", "a general comparison", or "a tentative comparison", each suggesting a different degree of imprecision.

Is it appropriate to use "a rough comparison" in formal writing?

While acceptable, consider more precise language for formal contexts. Phrases like "an estimated assessment" or "a preliminary analysis" might be more suitable.

What does it mean when someone says "a rough comparison"?

It implies that the comparison being made is not exact or detailed, but rather serves as a general indicator or approximation. For example, you can say "by way of "a rough comparison", these two results are similar".