rough assumptions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rough assumptions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing preliminary or approximate ideas that are not fully verified or detailed. Example: "Before we finalize the project plan, we need to make some rough assumptions about the budget and timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Using rough assumptions, the Hall paper concluded the economic damage from Microsoft's practices amounted to overcharging about $10 for each copy of its Windows operating system.

The New York Times

When they've tried, it has been based on rough assumptions, for example supposing that fires are likely to occur above certain temperature and below specific moisture levels.

Science Magazine

Similar types of rough assumptions were also used in the extension of temperature to very low temperatures (beyond the freezing point of mercury and alcohol).

SEP

Because those values are based on rough assumptions, further studies based on surface flux measurements need to be conducted to more accurately estimate the re-suspension factors.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

Using a number of rough assumptions, Plexus estimates optimal fund size like this: small-cap growth, $700 million; large-cap growth, $1.7 billion; small-cap value, $3.6 billion; large-cap value, $10.7 billion.

Forbes

The explanation of typical stratigraphic sequences as caused predominantly by sea-level fluctuations, and rough assumptions on sediment input/production and subsidence, is not necessarily applicable to passive continental margins.

Marine and Petroleum Geology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Since there is no differentiation between wood types in the database (only softwood and hardwood), only a rough assumption regarding the density of wood can be made.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

The shape of the building block is a rough assumption in reference to previous studies [2,4], which have approximated the dimensions of C-S-H blocksng blocks.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The origin why the formed oxide layer thickness varies with Ge content is not clear yet, and only a rough assumption is supposed as follows.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Despite of this rough assumption, the analytical results about the equilibrium shapes and their stability show a good agreement with the finite element simulations performed with a commercial code.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

It is a rough assumption about the relationship between domain and GO term and may result in a large number of false associations.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rough assumptions" when precise data is unavailable but estimations are necessary to proceed with a model or analysis. Justify why these assumptions are reasonable in the given context.

Common error

Avoid presenting conclusions derived from "rough assumptions" as definitive or certain. Instead, frame them as preliminary findings or estimations subject to further validation. Add qualifying words, like 'likely' or 'potentially'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough assumptions" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "rough" modifies the noun "assumptions". It describes the nature of the assumptions being made, indicating they are not precise or fully refined. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used across different contexts to denote estimations or premises that may not be exact.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rough assumptions" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe estimations or premises that lack precision, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Appearing frequently in scientific, news, and business contexts, the phrase serves to acknowledge uncertainty and manage expectations regarding accuracy. When using "rough assumptions", it's crucial to acknowledge their limitations and avoid overstating the certainty of any resulting conclusions. Alternatives such as "approximate estimates" or "preliminary hypotheses" may be more suitable depending on the specific context. The phrase's prevalence across authoritative sources underscores its acceptance in formal and professional communication, while emphasizing the need for transparent communication about potential inaccuracies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximate estimates

Replaces "assumptions" with "estimates" to emphasize numerical approximations rather than underlying premises.

initial approximations

Focuses on the starting point of calculations or estimations that are expected to be refined later.

preliminary hypotheses

Substitutes "assumptions" with "hypotheses" to convey a tentative explanation still under investigation.

crude estimations

Uses "crude" to emphasize the lack of precision or detail in the estimations.

tentative conclusions

Uses "conclusions" instead of "assumptions" to suggest a result based on limited evidence, emphasizing the provisional nature of the result.

basic suppositions

Replaces "assumptions" with "suppositions" to suggest something is taken for granted without proof.

working hypotheses

Emphasizes that these are hypotheses used for practical purposes during ongoing research or analysis.

broad generalizations

Replaces the phrase to point out the use of wide-ranging statements that may not be accurate in specific cases.

simplified premises

Emphasizes that the basic propositions are made less complex for the sake of analysis or understanding.

unrefined presumptions

Substitutes with "presumptions" to imply a belief held before investigation, highlighting its unpolished nature.

FAQs

What does "rough assumptions" mean?

The term "rough assumptions" refers to estimations or premises that are not precise or fully validated, often used when detailed data is unavailable or when simplifying complex situations is necessary.

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

You might say, "The initial budget projections were based on "rough assumptions" about market growth." Or, "Given the limited data, we had to make some "rough assumptions" to complete the model."

What are some alternatives to "rough assumptions"?

Alternatives include "approximate estimates", "preliminary hypotheses", or "tentative conclusions", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "rough assumptions"?

It's appropriate to use "rough assumptions" when precise data is lacking, during early stages of planning or modeling, or when aiming for a high-level overview rather than detailed accuracy. Always acknowledge their limitations.