a rough plan

USAGE SUMMARY

"a rough plan" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when describing someone's strategy for achieving a goal, as in the sentence: "I made a rough plan to get the project done on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Completely contradictory to my naturally controlling and over-planning ways, we made a rough plan on which countries we planned on visiting, but no hotel reservations or actual dates.

Huffington Post

All we had was a rough plan for five sections".

The Guardian - Music

Girardi, who makes the final decision about when and where Rivera plays, even drew up a rough plan for how it might look.

The New York Times - Sports

And out there inrealworldswingland; passion, competency and a rough plan to implement a national care service to complement the NHS goes down very well indeed.

The Guardian

I make a rough plan for my day, but know from experience that I cannot anticipate the issues that may come up.

The Guardian

If you have a rough plan for your next three updates, then this will make it easier to respond to feedback and keep you thinking ahead with your fantastic new app.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Following this, for the even more distant future, we only need a rough planning.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a rough planning sketch of a good video game.

Vice

Once you get the question paper in your hand, read all the questions and make a quick rough plan how you are going to invest your time for doing your best.

WikiHow

You will be marked up if the examiner can see that you followed some kind of process of planning.Once you have your ideas, create a rough essay plan, detailing where you will put your arguments and what examples you will use to back it up.

WikiHow

Harboring a deep-seated hatred of his sister, who lived with him, and a desire to harm his neighbors on a beachfront strip off Lake Ontario, Mr. Spengler composed a rough, typewritten plan that foretold of the destruction to come.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting "a rough plan", clearly state that it is subject to change and further refinement to avoid misunderstandings.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a rough plan" as a fully developed strategy. Emphasize its preliminary nature and the need for further elaboration to prevent confusion or unrealistic expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rough plan" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb (e.g., 'create', 'develop', 'sketch'). It indicates the existence of a preliminary strategy or outline, rather than a fully detailed and finalized one. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Wiki

21%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rough plan" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a preliminary strategy or outline. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's frequently found in news, media, wiki, and science contexts, indicating a broad applicability. When using this phrase, it's crucial to emphasize its preliminary nature to avoid any misunderstandings. Related phrases include "a preliminary plan" and "a basic outline", which offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis. Remembering that a "rough plan" needs further detailing will guide you to more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preliminary plan

Emphasizes that the plan is in its initial stages and subject to change.

a basic outline

Focuses on the skeletal structure of the plan, lacking specific details.

a tentative strategy

Highlights the uncertain and experimental nature of the approach.

a general framework

Suggests a broad structure without specific implementation steps.

a loose roadmap

Indicates a flexible guide with potential deviations along the way.

a working draft

Implies that the plan is currently under development and subject to revisions.

a sketched outline

Emphasizes the visual and initial form of the plan.

a projected course

Focuses on the anticipated path or direction of action.

a rudimentary scheme

Highlights the basic and undeveloped quality of the plan.

a conceptual layout

Indicates a focus on the underlying ideas and design rather than practical details.

FAQs

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

You can use "a rough plan" to describe an initial strategy, such as, "We developed "a rough plan" for the marketing campaign, but we need to refine the details".

What's the difference between "a rough plan" and "a detailed plan"?

"A rough plan" is an initial, less-defined strategy, while "a detailed plan" is a comprehensive and specific strategy.

What are some alternatives to using "a rough plan"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "a preliminary plan", "a basic outline", or "a tentative strategy".

When is it appropriate to present "a rough plan" instead of a comprehensive one?

It's appropriate when you're in the early stages of a project or when flexibility is crucial. For example, "The team presented "a rough plan" at the initial meeting to gather feedback before finalizing the details".