rough budget

USAGE SUMMARY

"rough budget" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when discussing an estimate that is meant to be a guideline or ballpark figure, and is not to be taken as an exact number. For example, "We discussed a rough budget for the project before deciding to move forward with it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

I gave him a rough budget.

The New York Times - Travel

Start by setting a rough budget for giving, and then divide that pie according to the causes and institutions that are most important to you.

The New York Times

DO THE MATH Before you start hitting open houses, sketch out a rough budget based on the 28percentt rule of thumb, using a simple mortgage calculator.

The New York Times

Mr. Cordts said he had a rough budget of $20,000 for Carolyn's Saturday afternoon festivities, not counting the clothes or the Sunday brunch or the Memorial Day barbecue for the 50 to 60 out-of-town guests.

The New York Times

Ultimately, the project was impractical a rough budget suggested that it would cost tens of millions of dollars, far more than de Rothschild thought he could raise from sponsors and he abandoned it.

The New Yorker

Start by making a list of all the people you expect to buy for, and assign a rough budget for each.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

To harp upon the dangers of Greenpeace's foreign funding, for instance, seems trivial: only 60m rupees (£606,000) out of its rough annual budget of 260m rupees (£4.75m) comes from overseas.

The Guardian

The rough overall budget is described as £13bn or 15bn euros.

BBC

The pair approached Honda with a rough, low-budget 30-second trial film inspired by the children's board game Mouse Trap, Caractacus Potts' breakfast-making machine in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and a 1987 Swiss art film by Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Der Lauf der Dinge (The Way Things Go).

Wikipedia

"So I used to rough cut the budget; I'd hide at least £100,000 a year in a slush fund, which allowed me to react very quickly.

The Guardian - Tech

Bank holidays cost more, open all year Seven of the places to stay on this list are featured in the Best Places to Stay in Britain on a Budget (Rough Guides, £9.99, published April), available from the Guardian Bookshop for £7.99 Know a great place to stay in the Yorkshire Dales or Moors national parks?

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rough budget", clarify the degree of uncertainty involved. For instance, mention the factors that could cause the actual expenses to deviate from the initial estimate.

Common error

Avoid treating a "rough budget" as a definitive financial plan. It's crucial to monitor expenses and make adjustments as needed to stay within reasonable limits.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough budget" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "rough" modifies the noun "budget". It describes the quality or state of the budget as being approximate or not finalized. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's about an estimate that is meant to be a guideline or ballpark figure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rough budget" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase referring to an approximate financial plan. As Ludwig AI explains, it's best used when discussing estimates meant as guidelines rather than precise figures. While considered uncommon in frequency, the phrase is widely understood and appears across diverse sources, primarily in news and media. Related terms include "approximate budget" and "estimated budget". When using "rough budget", clarify the level of uncertainty involved and avoid treating it as a fixed financial plan. Its communicative purpose is to set expectations appropriately in early project planning stages.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximate budget

Replaces "rough" with "approximate", indicating a similar level of imprecision but with a slightly more formal tone.

estimated budget

Uses "estimated" to convey that the budget is not exact and is based on calculations or assumptions.

preliminary budget

Suggests the budget is in an early stage and subject to change.

ballpark budget

An informal alternative emphasizing that the budget is a general estimate.

tentative budget

Implies that the budget is not final and may be adjusted later.

initial budget

Highlights that this is the first version of the budget.

projected budget

Focuses on forecasting the budget based on current information.

high-level budget

Indicates that the budget is a simplified overview without detailed specifics.

order-of-magnitude budget

Suggests a very broad estimate, accurate only to the nearest power of ten.

indicative budget

Implies the budget is meant to serve as a guide, rather than a strict limit.

FAQs

What does "rough budget" mean?

A "rough budget" refers to an approximate or preliminary financial plan. It's an estimate that's not intended to be precise and may be subject to change as more information becomes available.

How do you create a "rough budget"?

To create a "rough budget", start by listing your expected income and expenses. Use estimates based on past data or industry averages, and don't worry about being perfectly accurate at this stage. The goal is to get a general idea of your financial situation.

What are some alternatives to "rough budget"?

You can use alternatives like "approximate budget", "estimated budget", or "preliminary budget" depending on the context. These phrases convey a similar meaning of an inexact financial plan.

When is it appropriate to use a "rough budget"?

A "rough budget" is appropriate when you need a quick estimate for planning purposes, but precise figures aren't yet available. This is often the case in the early stages of a project or when dealing with uncertain financial variables.