rough summary

USAGE SUMMARY

"rough summary" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, "This is a rough summary of the findings from the study."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

(That is just a rough summary, and of course each side has a different version).

The New York Times

Civilians cowered indoors, unable to tell whether the big-booted heavies outside their doors were shooting to topple the government or to defend it.It is still not clear what happened, but here is a rough summary.

The Economist

South Africa, which made the discovery in November, presented a rough summary of the episode in a two-page letter sent this week to the special Security Council committee focused on sanctions against North Korea.

The New York Times

The Treasury select committee did not use the old gag about the private finance initiative being a Pretty Farcical Idea, but that's a rough summary of its view of the policy launched by Norman Lamont in 1992, embraced with enthusiasm by Gordon Brown in 1997 and still being deployed by George Osborne.

The Guardian - Business

But before that point, it would be super to find ways perhaps by encouraging the emergence of what he calls "the neighbourly society"—to convert the future criminal to virtue.That is a rough summary of a long lecture containing just the right number of non-intimidating allusions to Kant and Aristotle.

The Economist

If Ron Paul got on TV and said "Gah gah goo goo debasement! theft!" — which is a rough summary of what he actually did say — his supporters would say that he won the debate hands down; I don't think my supporters are quite the same, but opinions may differ.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Some elements are abhorrent, ordering rough justice, summary execution of criminals and issuing severe religious decrees.

The Economist

In 2004, Friedberg wrote a program, along with Siraj Khaliq, a colleague at Google, that could be used to produce a rough statistical summary of local weather patterns.

The New Yorker

But Belk is hardly alone in his rough and summary treatment by Beverly Hills police.

Huffington Post

This is just a rough draft of your summary.

WikiHow

In summary, there were rough correlations between the presence of viral antigens and viral titers in the given organs, and rZH501-M847-G-infected mice had delayed development of lesions or showed less severe lesions than did other infected mouse groups.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting complex information, use a "rough summary" as an initial overview to help your audience grasp the core concepts before diving into details.

Common error

Avoid using a "rough summary" as a substitute for thorough analysis, especially in contexts requiring precision and detail. Always ensure that it's supplemented with more comprehensive information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough summary" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates a preliminary or simplified overview of a topic, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rough summary" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term to describe a simplified overview of a subject. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it appears frequently in news, science, and general writing, serving to introduce complex topics in an accessible manner. While it is important not to rely on "rough summaries" as substitutes for more thorough analyses, they provide helpful starting points for understanding multifaceted information. Related phrases such as "approximate overview" and "general outline" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas, each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximate overview

Emphasizes the general nature of the summary.

general outline

Highlights the structural aspect of the summary.

brief sketch

Focuses on the concise and incomplete aspect of the summary.

preliminary synopsis

Suggests the summary is an initial version.

basic rundown

Emphasizes the simplicity and fundamental nature of the summary.

crude digest

Highlights the unrefined nature of the summary.

quick recap

Focuses on the speed and review aspect of the summary.

abridged version

Highlights the shortened form of a longer piece.

cursory account

Emphasizes the superficial nature of the summary.

sketchy report

Highlights the incomplete or lacking detail of the summary.

FAQs

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

You can use "rough summary" to introduce a simplified version of complex information, such as: "Here's a "rough summary" of the report's findings."

What is a good alternative to "rough summary"?

Alternatives include "approximate overview", "general outline", or "brief sketch", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

It's appropriate when you need to provide a quick, simplified explanation of a topic before going into more detail or when the audience only requires a general understanding.

What are the limitations of using a "rough summary"?

A "rough summary" might lack precision and omit important details. Therefore, it should not be used when accuracy and completeness are essential.