rough amount

USAGE SUMMARY

"rough amount" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means a general or approximate number, not an exact one. For example, you could say "The rough amount of people who attended the event was about three hundred."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Besides, Congress stripped away the deductibility of personal travel for executives in 2004 by allowing companies to deduct from taxes only the rough amount of a first-class ticket, far less than private jet travel costs.

The New York Times

And Gladwell discovered that, yes, his world-beaters devoted years to learning and to practice: ten thousand hours, he says, is the rough amount of time it takes for talented people to become masters.

The New Yorker

That's the rough amount needed to provide funds for Allied Irish Banks, Bank of Ireland and Anglo Irish Bank for three years, while recapitalizing them to a point where they might regain the confidence of the markets.

The New York Times

Whenever a waiver is granted to a scientist, the agency will name the company or institution with which the scientist has financial interests, along with the rough amount of that interest.

The New York Times

A pro-life group is complaining that the law unfairly limits its access to voters, and a slate-mailing organisation is suing because it objects to the rule that all campaign mailings should include the names of top contributors, as well as the rough amount (in dollar signs) they have contributed.All these complaints will be heard in October.

The Economist

I always knew the rough amount of my expenses but had never compiled them together all in one place before.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Another is the purchase record, which is composed of 38 attributes including order ID, item ID, color, size, order date and time, order site, customer ID, rough address, amount of purchase, etc.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Thus, the amount of ionium in sediments can be used as a rough measure of the age of sediment.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The surface morphology of the coatings becomes rougher with increasing amount of the powders, which favors cell attachment.

Thin Solid Films

Ice makes the surface of the wings rougher, reducing the amount of lift they provide while increasing drag.

Wikipedia

In the current study, we observed that, despite a large variation between individuals, there was a rough correlation between the amount of gluten consumed and the amount of gluten excreted.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rough amount" when you want to indicate an approximation, but also convey that you have some basis for that approximation, rather than a pure guess.

Common error

Avoid using "rough amount" when a precise figure is available or expected. Using it in such cases can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough amount" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, indicating that the quantity being referred to is not precise. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

39%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rough amount" serves as a useful way to indicate an approximate quantity. It is grammatically correct, as Ludwig AI confirms, and is most frequently found in news, media and scientific contexts. Although acceptable in most settings, more precise alternatives may be preferred in formal writing. When using "rough amount", ensure the context warrants an estimation rather than a precise figure to maintain credibility. The related phrases provide various other ways to express approximation, adding versatility to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximate number

Similar to "approximate quantity" but specifies that the amount is a numerical value.

approximate quantity

Focuses on the quantity being an approximation, differing slightly in emphasis from "rough amount".

rough calculation

Focuses on the calculation process being approximate rather than exact.

estimated quantity

Highlights that the quantity is an estimation, implying a calculation or judgment was involved.

ballpark figure

An idiom indicating a rough estimation, especially of a numerical value.

crude estimate

Stresses the lack of precision in the estimate, suggesting it's basic or preliminary.

general idea of the quantity

Emphasizes the lack of specific detail about the quantity.

guesstimate

A blend of 'guess' and 'estimate', implying an informal and possibly inexact estimation.

preliminary figure

Implies the amount is subject to change after further calculation or analysis.

order of magnitude

Denotes an estimation to the nearest power of ten, indicating a high level of approximation.

FAQs

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

You can use "rough amount" to indicate an approximate quantity, for example: "The "rough amount" of attendees was around 500".

What's a synonym for "rough amount"?

Alternatives for "rough amount" include "approximate quantity", "estimated quantity", or "ballpark figure".

Is it appropriate to use "rough amount" in formal writing?

While "rough amount" is acceptable, in formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives like "estimated quantity" or "approximate number" to maintain a higher level of formality.

What does "rough amount" imply about the accuracy of a figure?

"Rough amount" implies that the figure is not precise and may have a degree of uncertainty or variability, suggesting that it's an estimation based on available information.