as a rough comparison

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a rough comparison" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to provide an approximate or general comparison between two or more things without being precise. Example: "As a rough comparison, the cost of living in New York is significantly higher than in many other cities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 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

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

The New York Times

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

As a rough comparison, the respective positions of the four teams that Manchester City will face over the same period - all dwelling just above the relegation zone - tot up to a total of 62. Manuel Pellegrini's side, who are riding high on a seven-match winning streak that included beating Bayern Munich and Roma in the Champions League, begin their festive programme at home to Crystal Palace.

BBC

Although there are certain caveats with this technique such as the unconfirmed assumption that these compounds contribute equally to psychoactive properties it serves as a rough comparison of potency between species.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

To throw out some numbers as the basis for a rough comparison: In the United States, the Democratic or Republican nominee for President must win a bare majority of electoral votes (270 out of 538) that are only partially distributed in a federal system according to state population; and are awarded on a winner-take-all basis in all but two states.

Huffington Post

The simulation in our work is a rough comparison, as a comprehensive work, the accurate test data may be obtained by designing compatible models in our further work.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Cell growth assayed by colony formation (as shown in Figure 2C) is at best a rough comparison of growth rates and might not be capable of detecting moderate defects in cell polarity.

Plosone

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

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

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a rough comparison" to set expectations that the figures or values being compared are not precise, but offer a general sense of scale or magnitude. It's useful when exact data is unavailable or unnecessary.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "rough comparison" as definitive or exact. Always qualify the comparison with phrases like "approximately" or "roughly" to maintain accuracy and transparency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a rough comparison" functions as a prepositional phrase used adverbially. Ludwig confirms its proper usage to introduce an inexact comparison, setting expectations for approximation rather than precision.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as a rough comparison" serves as a useful tool for introducing approximate comparisons, particularly when precise data is unavailable or unnecessary. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability across various domains such as News & Media, Science and Wiki, as well as other contexts. Remember to use it to manage expectations around the level of precision and consider alternatives like "for a general comparison" or "as an approximate comparison" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a basic comparison

Replaces "rough" with "basic", suggesting a simpler, more fundamental comparison.

as a simple comparison

Similar to 'basic comparison', this emphasizes the ease and lack of complexity in the comparison.

as an approximate comparison

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

for a general comparison

Replaces "as a rough" with "for a general", indicating a broad, non-specific comparison.

in broad terms

Expresses the comparison in a more concise and less formal way.

as a quick comparison

Highlights the speed and ease of the comparison, implying it's not a detailed analysis.

for the sake of comparison

Indicates the comparison is being made primarily to illustrate a point or provide context.

by way of illustration

Introduces the comparison as an illustrative example rather than a precise evaluation.

on a comparative basis

Presents the comparison as a foundation for understanding the relative qualities of the subjects being compared.

as a point of reference

Frames the comparison as a benchmark or standard for understanding something else.

FAQs

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

Use "as a rough comparison" to introduce an estimate when exact figures are not available or necessary. For example, "As a rough comparison, the cost of living here is double what it is back home."

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

You can use alternatives like "as a basic comparison", "for a general comparison", or "as an approximate comparison" depending on the specific context.

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

It's appropriate when you're providing an estimated comparison and want to signal that the comparison isn't precise but still helpful for understanding relative magnitudes or values.

What's the difference between "as a rough comparison" and "as an exact comparison"?

"As a rough comparison" indicates an approximation, while "as an exact comparison" would suggest precise, verifiable figures. The former is used when precision is lacking or unnecessary, while the latter is used when precision is important.