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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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estimate roughly

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

By his estimate, roughly 41percentt of the Internet is still vulnerable.

Our Maximum A Posteriori estimate roughly follows the scorings from [34, 41, 42].

Although challenging to estimate, ground failure indices and experience can be used to estimate roughly ejecta-induced building settlement.

The implementation is further able to estimate roughly the social hierarchy and incorporates this in the calculation of the call sequence in order to attenuate feeding associated aggressions.

To reach this goal, we will have to grant more than 450,000 additional degrees each year over the course of the next decade which will cost, according to my estimate, roughly $7 billion to $10 billion annually.

News & Media

Forbes

Thus, either a single event or multiple events causing the 7-m offsets have occurred the last 870 years, and the slip rate we estimate roughly is around 8 mm/year.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The cost of expanding health insurance to 45 million people is estimated roughly at $1tn£600bnbn).

News & Media

The Guardian

This year, Mr. Jurkowitz estimated, roughly half of the coverage of Afghanistan actually emanated from the war zone.

News & Media

The New York Times

The US gun population, it is now estimated, roughly equals the country's human one of some 316 million.

News & Media

Independent

By some unofficial estimates, roughly 200 security officers have been killed by Maoists during the past 12 months.

News & Media

The New York Times

Of the 800 to 900 people that have gone to Dome for assistance over the past year, Goudie estimates roughly 5% ended up deciding to become their own boss.

News & Media

The Guardian
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase before the numerical data it modifies to immediately set the context of approximation.

Common error

Do not combine the phrase with other words of approximation in a way that creates tautology, such as saying "estimate roughly about" or "roughly estimate approximately". Choose one modifier to keep your writing concise and professional.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.4/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "estimate roughly" functions as a verb-adverb collocation used to denote the act of calculating or judging a value, quantity or extent without seeking exactness. In Ludwig, many examples show it acting as a predicate to introduce statistical data or measurements where only an order of magnitude is required.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "estimate roughly" is a robust and versatile tool in the English language, particularly valued in Science, News & Media and Academia. As shown by Ludwig, its primary strength lies in its ability to present data honestly when perfect precision is unattainable. Whether it appears in a The New York Times article regarding internet vulnerability or a PlosOne study on genetic recombination, the phrase serves as a linguistic safeguard against false certainty. Writers should favor it for its professional tone and clear communicative purpose. To maintain the highest quality of writing, avoid clustering it with other redundant prepositions like "about" or "around" and ensure the context justifies the lack of an exact figure.

FAQs

How do I use "estimate roughly" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a non-exact figure, for example: "Scientists "estimate roughly" that the population will double by 2050".

What is the difference between "estimate roughly" and "roughly estimate"?

There is no significant difference in meaning. While "roughly estimate" is slightly more frequent in casual speech, both are acceptable in formal writing.

Is "estimate roughly" more professional than "guess"?

Yes, because it implies that the figure is based on a process or data, even if the result is imprecise. Instead of "guess", you should use "approximate" or "estimate roughly" in a professional report.

Can I use "estimate roughly" for a business budget?

Yes, it is appropriate for early-stage planning. For a more business-centric idiom, you could use a "ballpark figure", though "estimate roughly" remains the safer choice for formal documents.

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Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.4/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: