rough balance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rough balance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an approximate or general equilibrium between two or more elements, often in contexts like finance, project management, or discussions about fairness. Example: "After reviewing the budget, we found a rough balance between our income and expenses, allowing us to proceed with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

"It's like life," he said, a rough balance.

The New York Times

Before the uprisings, a rough balance of power held in check enemies like Iran.

The New York Times

Italy has a smaller surplus, a bit below 2 per cent, while France is in rough balance.

Independent

She said she worried about retaining a rough balance between national retailers, regional retailers and independent shops.

The New York Times

Although there is a rough balance between Conservative and Labour voters in Greater London, Livingstone believes that the city has "a progressive majority".

The New Yorker

But the only cease-fire I can see that will not amount to an ephemeral piece of paper is one based on a rough balance of forces.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

We observed the wider medial femoral condyles sitting more on the edges of the feeler gauges, and not at the deepest point of the concave gauges during the first rough balancing after the tibiae were cut with a 6 mm gauge.

Acta Orthopaedica

By unwritten rule, the seven-member court has maintained a rough political balance, with no more than four members of the same party as the current governor.

The New York Times

But, especially in smartphones, they've also been plagued by poor off-axis viewing, rough color balance, issues being driven by onboard graphics cards and latent screen images that get "burned in" over time.

TechCrunch

According to rough nutrient balance estimation, the best ratio for sustainable aquaculture production was that obtained with treatment T2 (N P = 15:1 and N P K = 18 1 1), but N P ratio was between 10 1 and 20 1 for all treatments (Borchardt 1996).

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

As an example, the products with the greatest economic potential that would be produced by feedstock likely to be utilized at a coffee pulping station were selected to show a rough mass balance of products for a given amount of agricultural waste used as feedstock.

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In political discussions, employ "rough balance" to suggest a distribution of power or influence that is not perfectly equal but is generally stable and prevents any single entity from dominating.

Common error

Avoid using "rough balance" when you need to convey precise equality. The term implies an approximation, not an exact match. Use it only when the situation allows for some level of imbalance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough balance" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as a subject or object, indicating a state of approximate equilibrium or parity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a valid and understandable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rough balance" is a commonly used phrase to describe an approximate state of equilibrium or parity. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct and it is employed across various contexts, from news and media to scientific discussions. While the term suggests an approximation rather than exactness, it serves effectively to convey a general idea of evenness. Alternatives such as "approximate equilibrium" or "general parity" can be used depending on the specific context and desired level of formality. Using "rough balance" can efficiently communicate a state of near equilibrium where precise equality is not required or present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rough parity

Similar to relative parity, but emphasizes the 'roughness' or inexactness of the equality.

approximate equilibrium

Emphasizes the state of being nearly balanced, focusing on the equilibrium aspect.

general equilibrium

Suggests a more broad and overarching balance, often used in economic contexts.

general evenness

Similar to general equilibrium, focuses more on the state of evenness rather than the balanced forces.

relative parity

Highlights the aspect of equality or similarity, but in a comparative sense.

close equivalence

Underscores the similarity in value or amount, suggesting a near-equal state.

near symmetry

Focuses on the symmetrical nature of the balance, implying visual or structural evenness.

uneven equilibrium

Highlights that equilibrium can be achieved even with some degree of unevenness.

tenuous balance

Highlights that this balance is not stable and is prone to changing.

imperfect equilibrium

Highlights that the balance is not perfect, but still generally balanced.

FAQs

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

"Rough balance" is used to describe a state of approximate equilibrium or equality between two or more things. For instance, "The company achieved a "rough balance" between revenue and expenses this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "rough balance"?

Alternatives to "rough balance" include "approximate equilibrium", "general parity", or "relative equivalence", depending on the specific context.

Is "rough balance" a formal or informal expression?

"Rough balance" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is commonly used in news articles, business reports, and academic papers, as well as in everyday conversation.

What's the difference between "rough balance" and "exact balance"?

"Rough balance" indicates an approximate equilibrium, while "exact balance" implies a precise and perfect equality. If you need an absolute equality, prefer "exact balance".