for roughly two years

USAGE SUMMARY

'for roughly two years' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "I worked at that company for roughly two years before deciding to move on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Harrity has been with the police department for one year, Noor for roughly two years.

The Guardian

Then, for roughly two years, there was no official mention of Lin Biao at all.

The New York Times

Happiness research has found that getting married gives spouses a happiness boost but only temporarily, for roughly two years.

University of California, Berkeley

Clijsters announced her first retirement in 2007 and stayed away from the game for roughly two years.

The New York Times - Sports

For roughly two years, the Congress Party has been mired in corruption scandals and widely criticized for arrogance and ineffectiveness, while also overseeing a rapidly declining economy.

The New York Times

The trading commission accused JPMorgan of overextending credit to Lehman for roughly two years leading up to its bankruptcy in 2008.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Anatomically modern humans have been around for roughly two hundred thousand years.

The New Yorker

The researchers followed more than 9,000 women in 20 countries for roughly five years.

The New York Times

Computer Sciences, based in El Segundo, Calif., has provided similar services at Fort Rucker for roughly six years.

The New York Times

Moreover, dogs have been co-evolving with humans for roughly fifteen thousand years, learning to read us.

The New Yorker

I've worked at the Guardian as a freelance subeditor for roughly four years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a duration of time, use "for roughly two years" to indicate an approximation, not an exact measurement. This conveys a sense of informality and estimation.

Common error

Avoid using "for roughly two years" when an exact duration is known or required. If precision is necessary, provide the specific timeframe instead of using an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for roughly two years" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating the duration of an action or state. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing time spans in diverse situations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for roughly two years" is a common and grammatically correct way to express an approximate duration of time. Ludwig examples demonstrate that it is frequently used in news and media, as well as academic contexts, to describe timeframes without requiring precise measurement. While its register is generally neutral, it is important to consider the context and opt for more precise or formal alternatives if needed. According to Ludwig, its informal tone is better suited for casual communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately two years

Uses a more formal synonym for 'roughly'.

about two years

Replaces 'roughly' with a more common and less precise term.

around two years

Similar to 'about two years', indicating an approximation.

for a period of about two years

More verbose way of stating the same approximate duration.

for close to two years

Indicates the duration is slightly less or more than two years.

in the vicinity of two years

A more formal and less frequently used alternative.

in the neighborhood of two years

Informal way of expressing approximation.

spanning approximately two years

Emphasizes the duration as a continuous period.

lasting around two years

Focuses on the length of time something continues.

in the ballpark of two years

An idiomatic expression for an approximate time.

FAQs

How can I use "for roughly two years" in a sentence?

You can use "for roughly two years" to indicate an estimated duration, like: "I worked there "for roughly two years" before moving to a new position."

What's a more formal alternative to "for roughly two years"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "approximately two years" or "for a period of about two years".

Is it appropriate to use "for roughly two years" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "for roughly two years" might be too informal for some academic contexts. Use it judiciously or opt for a more precise or formal alternative if necessary.

What's the difference between "for roughly two years" and "for exactly two years"?

"For roughly two years" indicates an approximation, while "for exactly two years" signifies a precise duration. Use the former when the time frame is not precisely measured and the latter for accurate durations.