rough plan

USAGE SUMMARY

"rough plan" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a plan that has not been worked out in detail, or that is subject to change. For example, "We don't have a detailed plan yet, so we are just making a rough plan for now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Completely contradictory to my naturally controlling and over-planning ways, we made a rough plan on which countries we planned on visiting, but no hotel reservations or actual dates.

Huffington Post

All we had was a rough plan for five sections".

The Guardian - Music

Girardi, who makes the final decision about when and where Rivera plays, even drew up a rough plan for how it might look.

The New York Times - Sports

And out there inrealworldswingland; passion, competency and a rough plan to implement a national care service to complement the NHS goes down very well indeed.

The Guardian

I make a rough plan for my day, but know from experience that I cannot anticipate the issues that may come up.

The Guardian

On arrival in this country in April 1942 I outlined the rough plan to Montagu Slater, and asked him to undertake the libretto.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

This chapter deals with the rough planning components at the individual site of a production network based on neural networks.

Knowledge-Based Systems Techniques and Applications

He recently canceled events in Florida, and a West Coast trip is still in the rough planning stages.

The New York Times

By the time he drafted rough plans for Mr. Kacmarcik's residence, the Bauhaus virtuoso had already completed major projects like the Unesco headquarters in Paris.

The New York Times

Under the commission's rough plans, companies would adopt a tax base for their EU-wide activities, rather than face a tangle of 27 different regimes.

The Economist

Mr. Brillembourg had already drawn up rough plans for the house, which he modified to accommodate both Ms. Waisman's studio and her design ideas.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rough plan", clarify that it's subject to change to manage expectations. For example, "Here's a rough plan, but we'll need to refine it as we gather more information".

Common error

Don't treat a "rough plan" as a definitive guide. Ensure stakeholders understand it's a preliminary outline and requires further development before implementation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough plan" functions as a noun phrase, where "rough" modifies the noun "plan". It indicates an initial or preliminary strategy that is not yet fully developed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

23%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rough plan" is a commonly used and grammatically correct term to describe an initial or preliminary strategy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. When using this term, it's important to manage expectations by clarifying that the plan is subject to change. Alternatives such as "preliminary outline" or "basic framework" can be used depending on the specific context. A common pitfall is treating a "rough plan" as definitive; it's essential to recognize its preliminary nature and allow for further refinement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary outline

Focuses on the initial, undeveloped aspect of a plan.

initial draft

Emphasizes the early stage of plan creation.

basic framework

Highlights the structural foundation of a plan.

general scheme

Implies a broad, less detailed approach.

tentative blueprint

Suggests a plan that is subject to change and not yet finalized.

high-level strategy

Highlights the overview nature of a plan.

preliminary concept

Focuses on the conceptual stage before detailed planning.

early stage design

Refers to the beginning phases of designing a plan.

skeleton plan

Suggests a minimal plan with only essential elements.

rudimentary strategy

Conveys a basic, undeveloped strategic approach.

FAQs

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

You can use "rough plan" to describe an initial or preliminary strategy. For example, "We have a "rough plan" for the project, but the details still need to be worked out."

What's a good alternative to "rough plan"?

Alternatives include "preliminary outline", "initial draft", or "basic framework", depending on the specific context.

Is it okay to start a project with just a "rough plan"?

Starting with a "rough plan" can be beneficial for flexibility, but ensure key stakeholders understand it's not set in stone and may evolve. This approach allows for adjustments as new information becomes available.

What distinguishes a "rough plan" from a detailed plan?

A "rough plan" lacks specifics and serves as a general guide, whereas a detailed plan includes precise steps, timelines, and resource allocations. The former is exploratory, and the latter is actionable.