coarsely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "coarsely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is rough or not finely processed, often in relation to texture or granularity. Example: "The chef recommended using coarsely ground pepper for a more robust flavor in the dish."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It is hard and coarsely crystalline.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The narrow, coarsely saw-toothed, heavily veined, blue-green leaves of the American beech are about 13 cm (5 inches) long and turn yellow in autumn; the slightly shorter, egg-shaped, dark-green leaves of the European beech turn red-brown in autumn but, in mild climates, persist through the winter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The leaves are alternate and oval or heart-shaped in outline, with finely to coarsely toothed margins (leaf edges).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The elliptic leaves have coarsely serrate (toothed) margins and are 200 250 mm (8 10 inches) in length.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The common sunflower is an annual herb with a rough hairy stem 1 4.5 metres (3 15 feet) high, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves 7.5 30 cm (3 12 inches) long, and heads of flowers 7.5 15 cm wide in wild specimens and often 30 cm or more in cultivated types.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In addition, its massive jaws are armed with large, sharply pointed, and coarsely serrated teeth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The plants are herbaceous perennials with coarsely toothed divided leaves and four-petaled yellow blooms about 2.5 cm (1 inch) across.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The calcite is usually coarsely crystalline, densely packed, and coloured various shades of tan, orange, and brown.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The first bread was made in Neolithic times, nearly 12,000 years ago, probably of coarsely crushed grain mixed with water, with the resulting dough probably laid on heated stones and baked by covering with hot ashes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Outside the tropics and warm temperate areas, most members of the family are deciduous, and the leaves are frequently deeply lobed or at least coarsely toothed at the margins.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most dolomite marbles are coarsely granular with individual grains ranging between 2 and 6 millimetres (0.079 and 0.24 inch) in greatest dimension.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, "coarsely" can describe approximations or simplified representations. For example, "coarsely defined categories."

Common error

Avoid using "coarsely" when describing abstract concepts that require nuance and precision. Opt for terms like "roughly" or "generally" instead to maintain clarity and sophistication in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "coarsely" primarily functions to modify verbs or adjectives, describing the manner in which an action is performed or a quality is exhibited. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is grammatically correct and commonly found across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

36%

News & Media

28%

Science

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "coarsely" is a grammatically sound and commonly used term, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe actions or qualities with a notable lack of refinement or precision. Predominantly found in encyclopedic and news media sources, its usage spans from describing physical textures to abstract definitions. While versatile, it's advisable to avoid "coarsely" in contexts demanding high nuance, opting for more precise alternatives like "roughly" or "generally" in such cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly

Emphasizes a lack of precision or detail; a less refined approach.

crudely

Highlights a raw or unpolished quality, often implying a lack of skill or sophistication.

roughly speaking

Indicates an approximation, often used to simplify a complex idea.

in a crude manner

More explicitly describes the way something is done lacking refinement.

in a rough way

Focuses on the unpolished or unfinished nature of an action or object.

imprecisely

Highlights the lack of exactness or accuracy.

grainily

Refers specifically to a texture that is not smooth or fine.

inarticulately

Suggests a lack of clarity or smoothness in expression.

unrefinedly

Emphasizes a lack of sophistication or polish in method or style.

un smoothly

Underscores a lack of fluency or finesse in execution.

FAQs

How can I use "coarsely" in a sentence?

You can use "coarsely" to describe something that is rough or not finely processed. For example, "The mixture was "coarsely ground"" or "The data was "coarsely defined"".

What can I say instead of "coarsely"?

You can use alternatives like "roughly", "crudely", or "imprecisely" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "coarsely ground"?

Yes, "coarsely ground" is a correct and common usage. It describes something that has been ground in a way that it still retains a rough texture, such as "coarsely ground pepper".

What's the difference between "coarsely" and "finely"?

"Coarsely" describes something with a rough or unrefined texture, while "finely" describes something with a smooth or refined texture. For example, "coarsely ground salt" has larger grains than "finely ground salt"".