in rough terms

USAGE SUMMARY

"in rough terms" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a summary or general description of something. For example, "She explained the overall project plan in rough terms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

In rough terms, that translates into a maximum award of about $4.5 million.

The New York Times

In rough terms, there are 200,000 Americans now in Afghanistan, against the will of the American people.

The Guardian - Opinion

In rough terms, these approaches hold that judges should interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning.

The New Yorker

The Paris accord lays out, if in rough terms, the path that the world ought to follow.

The New Yorker

The excess was more than 7,000 megawatts – in rough terms, enough to power 120 million 60W light bulbs.

The Guardian

In rough terms, he believes that the Constitution prohibits the consideration of race as a factor — in, say, admission to college or being hired for a government job.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Bipolar disorder afflicts about 1percentt of the general population, so, in very rough terms, the risk of bipolar disorder in the children of these older fathers is about 3percentt.

Huffington Post

"In terms of weight, in terms of height, in terms of health, the population is really in rough condition".

Huffington Post

Since B(t + h) − B t) is normally distributed with mean 0 and standard deviation h1/2σ, in very rough terms B(t + h) − B t) can be expected to equal some multiple (positive or negative) of h1/2.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In very rough terms, the idea was to single out a collection of theories (a transfinite progression of systems of ramified second order arithmetic indexed by ordinals) by means of which to characterise a certain notion of predicative ordinal.

SEP

As the last neuron in the path, the stimulus predicted by a motor neuron would be very abstract and challenging to define precisely, but it could be described in rough psychological terms as a "plan for action".

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in rough terms" when you want to provide a simplified explanation, acknowledging that it might lack precise details.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on phrases like "in rough terms" in contexts where precision is crucial. Always strive to provide specific details when accuracy is paramount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in rough terms" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause or sentence to indicate that the statement is an approximation or a general description. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

19%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in rough terms" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to introduce approximations or simplified explanations. As verified by Ludwig AI, it serves as an adverbial phrase, predominantly in News & Media and Science contexts. When aiming for a general overview rather than precise detail, "in rough terms" is a suitable choice. However, remember that in situations demanding accuracy, it's best to provide specific details. For alternative expressions, consider "in general terms" or "broadly speaking" to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in general terms

Replaces 'rough' with 'general', suggesting a broad overview.

broadly speaking

Emphasizes a wide-ranging, non-specific perspective.

approximately

Single word meaning with brevity.

in broad strokes

Evokes a simplified, less detailed description.

as a rule of thumb

Suggests a practical, but not necessarily precise, guideline.

more or less

Implies slight imprecision.

to put it simply

Highlights the intent to provide an easy-to-understand explanation.

on the whole

Suggests a general truth, acknowledging possible exceptions.

by and large

Indicates a general statement that is mostly true.

in a nutshell

Indicates a concise summary.

FAQs

How can I use "in rough terms" in a sentence?

You can use "in rough terms" to introduce a simplified explanation or approximation. For example, "In rough terms, the project will cost around $1 million."

What's a more formal alternative to "in rough terms"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "in general terms" or "broadly speaking". These alternatives maintain a level of professionalism while still indicating a general overview.

When is it inappropriate to use "in rough terms"?

Avoid using "in rough terms" in situations where precise and detailed information is required, such as legal documents or scientific reports. In such cases, accuracy is paramount.

Is there a difference between "in rough terms" and "in exact terms"?

Yes, "in rough terms" indicates an approximation, while "in exact terms" implies precision and accuracy. They are essentially opposites.