for roughly a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for roughly a decade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate duration of ten years in various contexts, such as discussing experience, trends, or historical events. Example: "She has been working in the industry for roughly a decade, gaining valuable insights and expertise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

His workshop was in business for roughly a decade.

The New York Times - Arts

Broadway's latest infatuation with the London musical has been evolving for roughly a decade.

The New York Times

Here is this guy who for roughly a decade has been saying we need a stronger national government.

Yale University

Carson enjoyed a kind of underground reputation for roughly a decade; then in 1996, she won a Lannan Literary Award.

The New York Times - Magazine

We've both been married for roughly a decade to our respective partners and we just wanted to make it real.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

For roughly a decade, he and his family have been the subject of corruption investigations in France.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

If one looks at the trends for the ITBS or ITED one sees a similar pattern for all grades: a decline for about a decade, roughly 1965 to 1975 (the onset various a bit by grade) and then a rise to record high levels (no media considered this news).

Huffington Post

Not bad for a guy who's roughly a decade removed from being a supermarket stockboy in a remote town in Scotland.

Forbes

It took roughly a decade for the fatwa against author Salman Rushdie to be lifted for writing The Satanic Verses.

Huffington Post

For the first time in roughly a decade, Democrats rather than Republicans are the ones dreaming and talking about passing major new health care legislation.

Huffington Post

The Spartans advanced to the quarterfinal round of the tournament for the second year in a row, while the Titans, who fell in the first round, were happy to be there for the first time in roughly a decade.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for roughly a decade" to indicate an approximate duration without needing to be precise. It's suitable when the exact number of years is not critical to the context.

Common error

Avoid using "for roughly a decade" when you have precise data about the duration. In such cases, provide the exact number of years to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for roughly a decade" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the duration of an action, event, or state. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

17%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for roughly a decade" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate an approximate duration of ten years. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, including news, academia, and general discourse. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing styles, though more formal alternatives like "for approximately ten years" exist for heightened precision. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations where exactness is not paramount. By understanding its function, purpose, and usage patterns, writers can effectively integrate this phrase into their work. The phrase is indeed correct and suitable for various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for approximately ten years

Replaces "roughly a decade" with a more precise and slightly formal expression.

for about ten years

Uses "about" instead of "roughly" for a more informal feel.

for around a decade

Substitutes "roughly" with "around", maintaining a similar level of imprecision.

for nearly a decade

Emphasizes that the time period is close to, but not exactly, ten years.

for almost a decade

Similar to "nearly a decade", indicating a time period just short of ten years.

over the course of a decade

Shifts the focus to the process or events that occurred during that ten-year span.

spanning a decade

Highlights the duration of something lasting a decade.

in the last ten years

Focuses on a period in the recent past.

for a period of around ten years

More verbose and formal alternative.

throughout the past decade

Emphasizes a continuous action or state during the last ten years.

FAQs

How can I use "for roughly a decade" in a sentence?

You can use "for roughly a decade" to indicate an approximate duration of ten years. For example, "The technology has been under development "for roughly a decade"."

What can I say instead of "for roughly a decade"?

You can use alternatives like "for approximately ten years", "for about ten years", or "for around a decade" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "for roughly a decade" in formal writing?

While acceptable, "for roughly a decade" leans towards a neutral register. In highly formal contexts, "for approximately ten years" might be a better choice to convey greater precision.

What's the difference between "for roughly a decade" and "for nearly a decade"?

"For roughly a decade" suggests an approximate duration, while "for nearly a decade" implies the period is close to, but not quite, ten years.