rough proposal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rough proposal" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a plan or suggestion that is not yet fully formed. For example: "I have a rough proposal for the new advertising campaign, but I need to work out the details first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Assembly Democrats say they are not close to offering even a rough proposal.

The New York Times

It is worthy of note that the presented method for simulating the dependent rotational component is a rough proposal method.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering (IJASE)

The agency's rough proposal reflects that, with rail lines and highway projects stretching from the South Bay to northern L.A. County and from Westwood to Claremont.

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, a Metro director, told the crowd Thursday that the timelines included in the agency's rough proposal could be sped up with funding from the federal government or the private sector.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Advertising executives presented three rough proposals to the council last week and one featuring Andy Capp, the northeast's most famous fictional son, was a clear favorite to symbolize the current hard-fought resurgence of Newcastle.

The New York Times

So does the rush to partisanship; these rough Democratic proposals are likely to be misshapen further in negotiations with Congressional Republicans and the White House.

The New York Times

Rough as this proposal is, it will start to challenge the political consensus and draw people who thought they had nowhere to turn.

The Guardian - Opinion

As a foil to both the IS and SR models, consider the following (very rough and schematic) proposal (cf. Woodward, 2003): A sufficient condition for the introduction $S$ of the source to explain the death $D$ of the cat is that the following three conditions are met.

SEP

PM When Tim Beroughedee routhis out his proposal for the world wide web, this is almost certainly the kind of thing he had in mind.

The Guardian

Students are required to submit and discuss a rough draft of their proposal with a Faculty Supervisor at least two weeks before the deadline for proposals.

University of California, Berkeley

Still, elements of the rough outlines of the proposal before the judge already have some plaintiffs' lawyers grumbling.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rough proposal", be clear that the details are not yet finalized and may be subject to change. This helps manage expectations and encourages feedback.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "rough proposal" as if it were a fully developed plan. Clearly indicate that it is preliminary and requires further refinement to prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough proposal" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'rough' modifies the noun 'proposal'. According to Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct, indicating a plan or suggestion that is preliminary or not yet fully developed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rough proposal" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that signifies a preliminary plan or suggestion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for introducing ideas that are not yet fully developed. The phrase appears frequently in news, academic and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. When using "rough proposal", ensure you clearly communicate its preliminary nature to manage expectations and encourage collaborative refinement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary plan

Emphasizes the early and not-yet-finalized stage of the plan.

initial suggestion

Highlights the introductory nature of the suggestion.

tentative scheme

Indicates uncertainty and potential changes in the scheme.

undeveloped idea

Focuses on the lack of detail and elaboration in the idea.

approximate outline

Stresses the imprecise and general nature of the outline.

early draft

Highlights that the proposal is in its initial written form and subject to revision.

back-of-the-envelope calculation

Highlights a quick and imprecise estimation

preliminary sketch

Analogizes the proposal to a quick drawing lacking fine details.

basic framework

Highlights the fundamental, but incomplete, structure of the plan.

general concept

Focuses on the broad idea without specific implementation details.

FAQs

What does "rough proposal" mean?

A "rough proposal" refers to a preliminary plan or suggestion that is not yet fully developed or finalized. It typically contains the basic ideas but lacks detailed information and may be subject to change.

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

You might say, "Here's a "rough proposal" for the project, but we still need to work out the specifics," indicating the plan is in an early stage.

What can I say instead of "rough proposal"?

You can use alternatives like "preliminary plan", "initial suggestion", or "tentative scheme" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to present a "rough proposal" to senior management?

Yes, but always frame it as such. Highlight its preliminary nature and solicit feedback. It's better to present a "preliminary plan" early for guidance than to develop a detailed plan in isolation that misses key requirements.