at roughly the same time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at roughly the same time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that two or more events occurred simultaneously or in close proximity to each other in time. Example: "The two experiments were conducted at roughly the same time to ensure comparable results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

For both couples, sons arrived at roughly the same time.

The New York Times

Mr. Hu was holding forth at roughly the same time.

The New York Times - Sports

Fabergé Organic shampoo eventually washed out at roughly the same time as the Farrah Fawcett hairdo.

The New York Times

Prices in Afghanistan, at roughly the same time, were about $125.

The New York Times

At roughly the same time, the daughter of another rebellious Kazakh publisher was found murdered.

The New York Times

At roughly the same time, other antivirus companies were receiving similar reports.

The New York Times

Coincidentally, Alig fell from grace at roughly the same time that Culkin did.

The Guardian - Film

The success comes at roughly the same time Chamberlain was injured last summer.

The New York Times - Sports

Dr. Hamer's roles at the board and at TestU developed at roughly the same time.

The New York Times

Mercedes had already shown its Maybach, which went on sale at roughly the same time.

The New York Times

It happened at roughly the same time you were at the BBC.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing events across different locations or contexts, using "at roughly the same time" can help establish a temporal relationship without implying an exact synchronicity.

Common error

Avoid using "at roughly the same time" in overly passive constructions. Instead of writing "Mistakes were made at roughly the same time", opt for a more direct and active voice such as "They made mistakes at roughly the same time", for improved clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at roughly the same time" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action or event occurred. It specifies the temporal context, indicating simultaneity or near simultaneity. Ludwig examples show its use in news, science, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

15%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at roughly the same time" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that two or more events occurred in temporal proximity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While it carries a neutral formality, more precise terms like "simultaneously" may be preferred in highly formal settings. When using the phrase, it's best to maintain an active voice to ensure clarity. Alternative phrases, such as "around the same time" or "at approximately the same time", can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at approximately the same time

This phrase adds a level of formality and precision, similar to "at roughly the same time".

at about the same time

A simple and direct alternative, suggesting a near simultaneity of events.

around the same time

A slightly less precise but very common alternative, suggesting an approximate timeframe.

almost simultaneously

This alternative emphasizes the events happened very close together in time.

simultaneously

This is a more formal and concise way of saying something happened at the same time.

concurrently

Similar to 'simultaneously', but often implies that processes or activities are happening together.

in the same timeframe

Similar to "in the same period", this highlights the temporal scope.

in the same period

This alternative emphasizes the duration or timeframe during which events occur.

in close succession

This highlights the events happening shortly after one another, rather than exactly simultaneously.

at that very moment

This phrase conveys a sense of immediacy and coincidence, emphasizing the exact timing.

FAQs

What does "at roughly the same time" mean?

The phrase "at roughly the same time" means that two or more events occurred close to each other in time, although not necessarily at the exact same moment. It indicates temporal proximity or simultaneity.

Are there more formal alternatives to "at roughly the same time"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "simultaneously", "concurrently", or "at approximately the same time". The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

How can I use "at roughly the same time" in a sentence?

You can use "at roughly the same time" to connect two events by indicating that they occurred in temporal proximity. For example, "The company launched its new product, and "at roughly the same time", its competitor released a similar offering."

What's the difference between "at roughly the same time" and "at the exact same time"?

"At the exact same time" indicates that events happened simultaneously with precision. "At roughly the same time" implies less precision and suggests that events occurred close together but not necessarily at the exact same moment.