roughly a tenth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly a tenth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating a quantity or proportion that is approximately one-tenth of a whole. Example: "The new policy is expected to reduce costs by roughly a tenth, which will significantly benefit the budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

At roughly a tenth of the diameter of the Milky Way's disc, that is big even by galactic standards.

The Economist

With more than $1 trillion in Treasury bonds, China holds roughly a tenth of the American national debt.

The New York Times

Pfizer's share price fell by roughly a tenth on the news, though it later recovered a bit.

The Economist

If only 10% of Britain were covered then wind could provide roughly a tenth of total demand.

The Economist

Attacks in the province, meanwhile, are at roughly a tenth of what they were last year, according to military figures.

The New York Times

Using roughly a tenth as many words as the original, it makes shapely narrative from a part of the poem that used to be considered incoherent and obscure.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Roughly a third are Mexican.

The Economist

Roughly a third are EU citizens.

The Guardian

SAC dismissed roughly a third of its money managers.

The New York Times

Roughly a third of the workforce has no job.

The Economist

Islamists make up roughly a third of the Egyptian population.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly a tenth", ensure the context clearly establishes what the tenth is relative to. For instance, "Roughly a tenth of the budget was allocated to marketing."

Common error

Avoid using "roughly a tenth" when a more precise figure is known and readily available. Overusing approximations can undermine the credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly a tenth" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate an approximate proportion. It is used to convey that a certain amount is approximately one-tenth of the total. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "roughly a tenth" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something is approximately 10% of a whole. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase enjoys widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news and media, academia, and scientific writing. While more precise figures might be appropriate in certain situations, "roughly a tenth" is a valuable tool for conveying general proportions when exact numbers are not necessary or available. Related phrases such as "approximately one tenth" or "about ten percent" can be used as alternatives. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly define what the tenth is relative to, ensuring clarity and avoiding misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around a tenth

Substitutes "roughly" with "around", keeping the meaning virtually identical.

approximately one tenth

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately", providing a more formal synonym while maintaining the same meaning.

about ten percent

Converts the fraction to a percentage, offering a different numerical representation of the same proportion.

just about a tenth

Emphasizes the approximation being very close to one tenth.

close to ten percent

Adds a sense of nearness or proximity to the ten percent figure.

nearly ten percent

Suggests that the value is slightly less than ten percent.

something like ten percent

Indicates an estimated value that is similar to ten percent, but not necessarily precise.

in the neighborhood of ten percent

Uses a more descriptive and less precise way to indicate a value around ten percent.

in the vicinity of a tenth

Similar to "in the neighborhood of", but uses different vocabulary.

a small fraction

Shifts the focus to the relative size of the portion, without specifying the exact fraction.

FAQs

How can I use "roughly a tenth" in a sentence?

Use "roughly a tenth" to indicate that something is approximately 10% of a whole, such as in the sentence: "Roughly a tenth of the students participated in the optional survey."

What can I say instead of "roughly a tenth"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately one tenth", "about ten percent", or "close to ten percent" depending on the context.

Is it more accurate to say "roughly a tenth" or "exactly 10%"?

"Roughly a tenth" implies an approximation, while "exactly 10%" suggests a precise figure. Choose the phrasing that best reflects the actual level of accuracy in your data.

What's the difference between "roughly a tenth" and "roughly a third"?

"Roughly a tenth" indicates an approximate value of 10%, while "roughly a third" suggests an approximate value of 33.3%. They represent different proportions of a whole.