as a rough approximation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a rough approximation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when providing an estimate or an imprecise calculation that is not exact but gives a general idea of a value or measurement. Example: "The total cost of the project is, as a rough approximation, around $10,000."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

But as a rough approximation, it does give you an idea what most places are experiencing.

The Washington Post

The figures — for a variety of technical reasons — should be viewed as a rough approximation of the breadth of the Obama campaign's operation.

The New York Times

As a rough approximation, therefore, only 1 in 8000 Americans would likely qualify to be called a professional economist by training.

The Economist

Apple explains that as part of its enrolment process, it gathers a variety of markers about the user's online Apple account and phone characteristics, such as a rough approximation of its current geographical coordinates.

The Economist

Very little of a universal nature can be written about such mountain areas except to note that, as a rough approximation, they tend to resemble cooler, wetter versions of the climates of nearby lowlands in terms of their annual temperature ranges and seasonality of precipitation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Facebook started as a rough approximation of sharing your life with a group of friends.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

We may thus view it as giving a rough approximation of the contractility increase which precise value is adjusted in the theoretical model to fit the experiments.

eLife

According to the results, the selected values of ρ are 1/32 for the 40- and 80-MHz models and 1/16 for the 160-MHz model, as they represent a rough approximation of the optimal values for the assumed conditions.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As this index was a rough approximation of resilience and scale-sensitive, which may not be useful for inter-household comparative analysis, a composite index using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was constructed.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

If you can't quite manage the archetypal route, then you have to fashion a rough approximation, as best you can.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Not Hot Dog-esque Food feature is impressive, as well, identifying food stuffs and giving you a rough approximation that you can add to the Samsung Health app.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as a rough approximation", follow it with a clear statement of what is being estimated. This provides context and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid presenting a figure derived "as a rough approximation" as if it were a precise value. Always acknowledge the inherent imprecision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a rough approximation" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a statement to indicate that it is an estimate or not entirely precise. Ludwig examples illustrate this usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a rough approximation" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to introduce estimates or inexact calculations. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and frequently employed across various fields, including science, news, and general writing. The phrase signals a degree of imprecision and should be used when exact figures are unavailable or unnecessary. When using this phrase, it is important to qualify the statement clearly and avoid overstating the precision of the derived figure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a general estimate

Focuses on providing an overall estimate rather than a precise calculation.

as a ballpark figure

Implies a quick and informal estimate, often used in business contexts.

as an order of magnitude

Highlights the scale or power of ten, rather than an exact value.

as a back-of-the-envelope calculation

Emphasizes the informality and speed of the calculation.

as a rule of thumb

Suggests a practical and easily remembered method for estimation.

as a preliminary estimate

Indicates that the estimate is subject to change with more information.

as a tentative calculation

Highlights the provisional nature of the calculation.

as a broad estimate

Implies a less precise and more inclusive estimation.

as a loose calculation

Suggests a relaxed and not very accurate calculation.

as an educated guess

Highlights that the estimate is based on knowledge and experience, but not exact data.

FAQs

How can I use "as a rough approximation" in a sentence?

Use "as a rough approximation" to introduce an estimate or calculation that is not exact but gives a general idea, for example: "As a rough approximation, the project will take about six months to complete."

What phrases are similar to "as a rough approximation"?

You can use alternatives like "as a general estimate", "as a ballpark figure", or "as an order of magnitude" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "as a rough approximation"?

It's appropriate when you need to provide an estimate or a figure that isn't precisely calculated, but provides a useful indication or comparison.

What is the difference between "as a rough approximation" and "as a precise calculation"?

"As a rough approximation" indicates an estimated value, while "as a precise calculation" suggests an exact and accurate figure.