rough agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rough agreement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two or more parties have a general consensus or understanding, but the details may not be fully finalized or agreed upon. Example: "After several discussions, we reached a rough agreement on the project's scope, but we still need to iron out the specifics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

"There was a rough agreement" on Wednesday, Mr. Baucus said.

The New York Times

Until the spring, the two sides seemed to have reached a rough agreement to ease the generals from power.

The New York Times

There seems now to be rough agreement that about three-quarters of the improvement comes from reductions in smoking and changes in lifestyle and about a quarter from medical care.

The Guardian - Opinion

The two men did not come into rough agreement until Mr. Rumsfeld resigned right after the Congressional elections of November 2006 and Mr. Bush ordered the "surge" that Mr. McCain had demanded.

The New York Times

While many of the proposals to reform the bank and the fund appear to be at cross purposes, there is rough agreement that both have strayed from their main missions.

The New York Times

ATLANTA — Thirty-eight end-stage renal patients, most of them illegal immigrants, would receive the dialysis they need to stay alive at no cost under a rough agreement brokered Tuesday among local dialysis providers and Atlanta's safety-net hospital, Grady Memorial.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Although both estimates are rough, their agreement suggests that a small increase in may account for the fairly high population dynamics observed during the last 2,000 generations.

Genome Biology and Evolution

The potential dependencies for these reactions as calculated using the ASED-MO band-shift include decreasing activation energies with increasing potential and the prediction of a lower oxidation onset voltage for the alloy compared to the rough surface, in agreement with experimental measurements from the literature.

Electrochimica Acta

Under the agreement, all rough diamonds that cross the member nations' borders must have certificates of legitimate origin and must be bound to or from another member nation.

The New York Times

The historic decision led to negotiations for Mr. Hamdi's release and his possible return to Saudi Arabia, and the Justice Department said in a court filing on Thursday that the two sides had reached the rough outlines of an agreement, with only details remaining to be worked out.

The New York Times

The fourth column gives a rough indication of the agreement between human subjects.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rough agreement" when you want to convey that a consensus has been reached, but the finer details still need to be clarified or finalized. It is suitable for situations where precision is not yet paramount.

Common error

Avoid treating a "rough agreement" as a binding commitment. Always clarify outstanding issues to prevent misunderstandings. A "rough agreement" is a starting point, not the destination.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough agreement" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb (e.g., "reach a rough agreement") or the subject complement. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase describes a preliminary or not fully detailed consensus.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rough agreement" is a noun phrase used to describe a preliminary consensus where details are not yet finalized. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and business. While not as strong as a "firm agreement", it signals progress in negotiations or discussions. Related phrases include "tentative consensus" and "preliminary understanding". When using this phrase, remember that it does not imply a complete or binding agreement and further clarifications may be required. The frequency of this phrase is uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary understanding

Emphasizes the early and not fully developed nature of the understanding.

tentative consensus

Highlights the possibility that the consensus might change.

initial accord

Focuses on the starting point of an agreement process.

approximate understanding

Stresses that the understanding is not exact.

general understanding

Suggests a broad agreement without specific details.

basic consensus

Implies agreement on fundamental points only.

working agreement

Highlights that the agreement is functional but potentially temporary.

provisional arrangement

Indicates a temporary arrangement before a final decision.

informal understanding

Suggests the agreement is not official or binding.

broad consensus

Implies a wide but not necessarily detailed agreement.

FAQs

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

You can use "rough agreement" to describe a situation where parties have a general understanding but not all details are finalized. For example: "The negotiating teams reached a rough agreement on the trade terms".

What's the difference between "rough agreement" and "firm agreement"?

A "rough agreement" indicates a preliminary understanding with details to be worked out, while a "firm agreement" implies a finalized and binding commitment. The former is tentative, the latter is definitive.

What can I say instead of "rough agreement"?

You can use alternatives like "preliminary understanding", "tentative consensus", or "general understanding" depending on the context.

Is "rough agreement" formal or informal language?

"Rough agreement" is suitable for both neutral and professional contexts. However, in highly formal or legal settings, consider using more precise terms like "memorandum of understanding" or "letter of intent" if appropriate.