it lasted roughly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it lasted roughly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate an approximate duration of an event or situation. Example: "The meeting lasted roughly two hours, which was longer than we had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It lasted roughly 10 minutes.

The New York Times

Then it lasted roughly one month.

The Guardian - Sport

It lasted roughly from 2003 to 2007 – the years of out-and-out dominance.

The Guardian - Sport

Purita said that once the procedure was done — it lasted roughly 45 minutes, he said — the results were evident.

The New York Times - Sports

For in truth, there was a time in American history — it lasted roughly from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of the Great Depression — when opportunity and upward mobility were choked off by the concentration of wealth and power in a few hands.

The New Yorker

Only this time, it wasn't a one-night relapse; it lasted roughly five months.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

(It's very easy to listen to "Replica" and think it lasts roughly fifteen minutes; in fact, it is just over forty minutes long).

The New Yorker

It is more or less unchanged from its heyday, which lasted roughly from the sixteenth century to the eighteenth.

The New Yorker

This rally lasted roughly three years, until it peaked in 1937.

Forbes

It'll last roughly 5 years if it's left on for 8 hours a day.

TechCrunch

It's not surprising that the sexual element of the relationship — an element that lasted roughly a decade — seemed to matter more to Auden than to Isherwood.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it lasted roughly" when providing an estimated duration of an event, phase, or process. This indicates the time frame is not exact.

Common error

Avoid using "it lasted roughly" when you have precise duration data. This phrase is best suited for estimations or when exact figures are unavailable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it lasted roughly" functions as a temporal descriptor, indicating the approximate duration of an event or state. As Ludwig AI indicates, this expression is acceptable in written English for estimations. It is often used to provide a sense of duration when precise figures are unknown or unnecessary.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

25%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it lasted roughly" serves to indicate an estimated duration and is grammatically sound. As Ludwig AI confirms, its acceptable to use this expression in written English, particularly within news articles and reports when exact durations are not required or available. The phrase is versatile, lending itself to a variety of contexts, from describing events to specifying time spans. While not highly formal, "it lasted roughly" remains appropriate for a wide range of writing situations. When expressing duration where precision isn't required, consider using this expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it went on for roughly

Uses "went on" as a more conversational alternative to "lasted", maintaining "roughly".

it took approximately

Replaces "lasted roughly" with "took approximately", focusing on the time required for something.

it extended for about

Uses "extended" to indicate duration and "about" for approximation.

it spanned nearly

Replaces "lasted" with "spanned" and "roughly" with "nearly", indicating a period of time.

it continued for close to

Emphasizes continuation and uses "close to" for approximation.

it persisted for around

Uses "persisted" to indicate duration and "around" for approximation.

it endured for almost

Replaces "lasted" with "endured" and "roughly" with "almost".

it covered approximately

Focuses on the period covered, using "approximately" for estimation.

it existed for in the neighborhood of

Uses a more descriptive, less formal way of expressing approximate duration.

it occupied more or less

This uses a different construction with more or less to signify approximation.

FAQs

How can I use "it lasted roughly" in a sentence?

Use "it lasted roughly" to describe the duration of an event when you're giving an estimate. For example, "The meeting "it lasted roughly" an hour."

What are some alternatives to "it lasted roughly"?

Alternatives include "it took approximately", "it extended for about", or "it went on for roughly", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "it lasted roughly" or "it lasted exactly"?

Use "it lasted roughly" when the duration is an estimate. Use "it lasted exactly" when you know the precise duration. The choice depends on the accuracy of your information.

What's the difference between "it lasted roughly" and "it lasted about"?

Both phrases indicate an approximate duration. "It lasted roughly" and "it lasted about" are nearly interchangeable, though "it lasted roughly" might suggest a slightly less precise estimate.