be done roughly

USAGE SUMMARY

"be done roughly" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe a task or activity that is completed in a hurried or careless way. For example: "The painting job was done roughly, so it didn't look great."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For the average skier, this should be done roughly once every seven ski days, or whenever it feels like turning has become more difficult.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The women will be doing roughly the same thing behind some sort of divider, or inside a home that is within sight and hearing of the men.

The New Yorker

Somewhere else on the stage, another pair of dancers will be doing roughly the same steps, but facing a different way or employing a different timing.

The New Yorker

On easy, you just need to be doing roughly the same thing as the dancer; on hard, if the dancer's hands are right up near their shoulders, your hands damn well better be up near your shoulders.

TechCrunch

We will be doing roughly one release per month.

Vice

A few of the detentions were done roughly — one man was thrown on the ground by the police and officers kneeled on his back.

The New York Times

Humphrey emphasized that winners must of course declare their bounty on their tax return; this is done roughly as often as anyone takes the Raiders on the road.

The New York Times - Sports

Lawyers for the 23 or so men who are being subjected to this treatment report that it is deliberately being done roughly, with unsterilised tubes that are too large: those claims are denied.

The Economist

In France (depending on how the calculations are done) roughly ten per cent of the population are of Arab or sub-Saharan African origin.

Huffington Post

I've been doing roughly one painting a year.

The Guardian - Books

It is doing roughly what you'd expect.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be done roughly", consider the context. It often implies a lack of precision or care, which might be appropriate in informal settings but less so in formal or professional contexts. If precision is important, opt for a more specific description of the process.

Common error

Avoid using "be done roughly" in formal reports or academic papers where precise language is expected. Instead, use more specific and descriptive phrases to convey the level of accuracy or care involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be done roughly" functions as a passive construction, indicating the manner in which an action is performed. It modifies the verb "be done" to specify that the action was completed without precision or care. The single example provided by Ludwig supports this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be done roughly" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate that a task was completed without much care or precision. Ludwig's examples, though limited, confirm its usage across various contexts, from news articles to scientific papers and Wiki articles. While generally acceptable, it's advisable to use more specific language in formal settings to accurately convey the level of care involved. Its frequency is rare, so consider synonyms for greater impact and clarity. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is correct in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be completed approximately

Replaces "done roughly" with a more formal synonym, focusing on approximation.

be finished inexactly

A more formal way of saying something was not finished with precision.

be executed imprecisely

Emphasizes the lack of precision in the execution of an action.

be managed inexpertly

Highlights a lack of skill in how the action was managed.

be handled carelessly

Highlights the lack of care taken in performing the action.

be addressed superficially

Indicates a lack of depth in how something was handled.

be undertaken crudely

Implies a lack of refinement and sophistication in the execution.

be performed hastily

Focuses on the speed and lack of attention given to the task.

be treated cursorily

Suggests a brief and dismissive approach to the task.

be conducted sketchily

Suggests a superficial and incomplete manner of conducting the action.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is described as "be done roughly"?

When something is said to "be done roughly", it means it was completed without much care, precision, or attention to detail. It implies a lack of refinement or a hurried approach.

How can I use "be done roughly" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe tasks that weren't completed with accuracy, such as, "The repairs "were done roughly", so they didn't last long."

What are some alternatives to saying "be done roughly"?

Alternatives include phrases like "be completed approximately", "be handled carelessly", or "be performed hastily", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "be done roughly" in formal writing?

It's generally not appropriate for formal writing. More precise and professional language should be used to describe the level of accuracy or care taken in completing a task. Consider alternatives like "be executed imprecisely" or "be finished inexactly" for a more formal tone.