roughly able to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly able to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating an approximate capability or capacity to do something. Example: "The team is roughly able to complete the project within the next two weeks, depending on the resources available."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

All genes used for normalization were roughly able to confirm that pattern.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A goal of one mile means roughly being able to run for about 15 minutes.

WikiHow

For example, a CNN could roughly be able to be said to tackle one word of the sentence at a time.

TechCrunch

Therefore, £15m would roughly be able to provide 500,000 people with the means to survive for about a week.

Vice

Of the 250,000, then, roughly 8,500 were able to get their loans modified and another 7,500 remain in negotiations for modifications.

The New York Times

The first was the general adoption of the split trail, in which two trail legs, opened to roughly 45°, were able to support a gun through a wider angle of traverse.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These Cubans, who were from all walks of life, were impressed, too, by Obama's easy charisma and his use of Cuban catchphrases and witticisms, and a couple of them recalled his praise of Cuban resourcefulness when he said, in Spanish, "el cubano inventa del aire"— roughly, Cubans are able to make things out of nothing.

The New Yorker

It's also a price tag that could potentially double if the deal is an all-equity offering and Uber, currently valued at roughly $60 billion, is able to go public at a $120 billion valuation.

TechCrunch

Some simple empirical modifications to the material constitutive behavior were able to roughly predict such long collapse times, but a more comprehensive and detailed investigation of the phenomenon is warranted.

Mechanics Research Communications

In this way, we are able to roughly double the accuracy rate for about a third of the queries.

BMC Genomics

By utilizing each engine independently, the crew made rough steering adjustments, and by using the engines together they were able to roughly adjust altitude.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "roughly able to" when you want to indicate an approximate or imprecise capability. For example, "The software is roughly able to identify the object, but it's not always accurate."

Common error

Avoid using "roughly able to" when a more precise description of the capability is available. Instead of saying "The sensor is roughly able to detect temperature changes", provide the accuracy range if known, such as "The sensor can detect temperature changes within a range of +/- 0.5 degrees."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly able to" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with a verb phrase. The adverb "roughly" modifies the verb phrase "able to", indicating an approximate or inexact ability. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is deemed grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "roughly able to" is a grammatically sound construction used to express an approximate capability or capacity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and can be found across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While "roughly able to" is not exceedingly common, with limited example usages, it serves a specific purpose in indicating a non-exact or estimated ability. For more precise descriptions or in technical contexts, consider using alternative phrases like "approximately capable of" or "somewhat "able to"". Remember to avoid overstating capabilities and always strive for accuracy when possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately capable of

Emphasizes the approximate nature of the ability.

somewhat capable of

Indicates a limited or moderate level of capability.

more or less able to

Suggests a general ability with potential for slight variations.

generally able to

Implies a usual or typical ability.

largely capable of

Highlights that the ability is present to a significant extent.

fairly able to

Indicates a reasonable degree of ability.

kind of able to

Expresses a tentative or uncertain ability.

capable to some degree

Specifies that the ability exists but might be limited.

adequately equipped to

Focuses on the resources or preparation enabling the ability.

sufficiently competent to

Stresses the level of skill required for the ability.

FAQs

How can I use "roughly able to" in a sentence?

The phrase "roughly able to" indicates an approximate capability. For example, "The old car is "roughly able to" reach 60 mph, but it struggles on hills."

What's a good alternative to "roughly able to"?

Alternatives include "approximately capable of", "somewhat "capable of"", or "more or less "able to depending on the context"".

Is it more appropriate to say "roughly able to" or "precisely able to"?

The choice depends on the context. Use "roughly able to" when describing an approximate capability and "precisely able to" when describing a precise capability. For example, "The measuring tool is "precisely able to" measure distances to the nearest millimeter".

What does "roughly" imply in the phrase "roughly able to"?

The word "roughly" indicates that the ability being described is not exact or precise. It suggests an approximation or an estimate. For example, "I'm "roughly able to" estimate the size of the room just by looking at it".