rough answer

USAGE SUMMARY

"rough answer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to provide a quick, informal answer to a question or to something that does not require a detailed response. For example, you could say: "That's a tough question, but my rough answer is yes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Until we settle on at least a rough answer, we won't have a prayer of preventing the next crisis.

The New York Times - Books

The work seen on the third problem is interesting because Christopher tried two related problems (190 ÷ 59 and 590 ÷ 190) and used repeated addition to get 3 as the rough answer for both of these problems.

International Journal of STEM Education

An initial and rough answer to this last question is contained in our discussion so far: Dedekind's approach is set-theoretic and infinitary, while Kronecker's is constructivist and finitary.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The question of whether to hold on or bail out allows only rough answers.

The New York Times

Physicists had worked out rough answers to the problems, but Dr. Schramm was able to provide rigorous, exact calculations.

The New York Times - Science

"Rough," he answered.

The New York Times - Travel

In the student workshop through rough questionnaire answered by 19 students (three architects, two engineers, 14 BS), a) satisfaction with BIM-technology, b) satisfaction with teamwork, c) satisfaction with process (work-flows), d) conflict-level and e) stress-levels were questioned on the scale ranging from 0 (low) to 6 (high) (Table 1).

Visualization in Engineering

The student then proceeded to rough out the answer he might have provided on the SAT on Saturday, had word of the arrests, and Mr. Paterno's role, broken before he sat down with his No. 2 pencil that morning.

The New York Times

A rough and ready answer is that the replication measures the same physical quantity.

SEP

Amartya Sen (1980) mentioned the term 'basic capability' as his first rough attempt to answer the 'equality of what?' question, but changed his terminology in subsequent work (what he called 'basic capability' would later become 'capability'capability

SEP

If I want to find out whether a particular construction is emerging, and where the people who use it come from, I would normally have to conduct a time-consuming pilot study, but with Twitter I can get a rough and ready answer in 30 minutes as people tweet much as they speak.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rough answer" when you want to provide a quick, informal response that does not require precise details or extensive explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "rough answer" in formal reports, academic papers, or legal documents where precise and well-supported answers are expected. Instead, opt for more formal alternatives like "preliminary assessment" or "approximate calculation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough answer" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "rough" modifies the noun "answer". It typically describes an answer that is not precise, detailed, or fully developed. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rough answer" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for conveying an approximate or preliminary response. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is suitable for informal contexts where precision is not critical. While common in news and media, it should be used cautiously in formal settings where more precise language is expected. Consider alternatives like "approximate response" or "preliminary assessment" in professional or academic writing. Always choose the most appropriate phrase based on the context and audience to ensure clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximate response

Replaces "rough" with "approximate", indicating a less precise answer.

preliminary response

Substitutes "rough" with "preliminary", suggesting an initial or early answer.

ballpark figure

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey an estimated answer.

educated guess

Suggests an answer based on some knowledge but without certainty.

guesstimate

Combines "guess" and "estimate" to indicate an approximate calculation.

tentative response

Implies an answer that is subject to change or further refinement.

initial assessment

Focuses on the evaluation aspect, suggesting a first look or judgment.

working hypothesis

Frames the answer as a temporary assumption for further investigation.

crude estimate

Emphasizes the lack of precision in the answer.

quick calculation

Highlights the speed and informality of the answer.

FAQs

What does "rough answer" mean?

A "rough answer" signifies an approximate, preliminary, or not fully refined response to a question or problem. It implies a lack of precision and detail.

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

You might say, "I can give you a "rough answer" now, but I'll need more time to calculate the exact figures." or "As a "rough answer", I'd estimate the project will take about six months.

What are some alternatives to "rough answer"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "approximate response", "preliminary response", or "ballpark figure".

Is it appropriate to use "rough answer" in professional settings?

While acceptable in informal discussions or quick updates, "rough answer" may not be suitable for formal presentations or written reports. Opt for more precise language when accuracy is paramount.