roughly as many

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly as many" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing quantities that are approximately equal or similar in number. Example: "In the survey, roughly as many participants preferred option A as those who chose option B."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Roughly as many were killed by recent landslides and floods in north-east China.

The Economist

Roughly as many are "swingers" (who spend at least some time abroad).

The Economist

Only New Jersey allows roughly as many, and many states allow fewer than half as many.

The New York Times

He has written about a dozen books in roughly as many years.

The New York Times

And roughly as many Americans continue to think Mr Gore should be president as want Mr Bush.

The Economist

Platinum now has roughly as many miners as gold.Luckily for producers, demand for platinum remains solid, even with rising prices.

The Economist

The Japanese equivalent of Denny's is Denny's, of which there are roughly as many as there are Royal Host restaurants.

The New York Times

In the United States, there are roughly as many Muslims (about five million) as there are Jews (about six million).

The New York Times

DCMS estimates suggest that there are roughly as many creative jobs outside the creative industries as within.

The Guardian

The gender gap does not exist in childhood: There are roughly as many African-American boys as girls.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

(The average Dust-to-Digital release sells about five thousand copies roughly as many as Mariah Carey sells in a bad week).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "roughly as many" when you want to indicate an approximate equality in number or quantity, without being overly precise. This is particularly useful when exact figures are unknown or not critical to the context.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly as many" with uncountable nouns. Instead, use "roughly as much" or "about the same amount" for uncountable quantities like "water" or "time".

Linguistic Context

Quantifier phrase used to express an approximate numerical equivalence between two quantities. Ludwig confirms its correct and frequent usage in diverse contexts, signifying a common way to make comparisons without precise data.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly as many" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote approximate numerical equivalence. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread application across varied writing styles. Although primarily observed in news and media outlets, its adaptability makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When aiming for greater precision, consider alternatives like "approximately the same number". As Ludwig AI data indicates, mind its usage with countable versus uncountable nouns to adhere to grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately the same number

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately" and restructures the sentence to use "the same number", emphasizing numerical equivalence.

about the same amount

Substitutes "roughly" with "about" and "many" with "amount", suitable for uncountable nouns.

nearly as much

Replaces "roughly" with "nearly" and implies a quantity close to the reference point, but potentially slightly less.

almost as many

Similar to "nearly as much", suggesting a slight difference in quantity.

practically the same number

Emphasizes the similarity in number to the point of being virtually indistinguishable.

virtually the same quantity

Highlights that the two quantities are so close as to be considered identical for practical purposes.

in the neighborhood of

Indicates an estimation that falls within a certain range, offering a less precise comparison.

close to the same number

Implies a degree of proximity in numerical value, without necessarily being an exact match.

more or less the same

Expresses an approximate equality, acknowledging minor variations.

in similar proportions

Shifts the focus to comparative ratios rather than absolute numbers, indicating comparable distributions.

FAQs

How can I use "roughly as many" in a sentence?

Use "roughly as many" to compare quantities that are close but not exact, such as, "There are "roughly as many apples" as oranges in the basket".

What can I say instead of "roughly as many"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately the same number", "about the same amount", or "nearly as much" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "roughly as many" in formal writing?

While "roughly as many" is generally acceptable, consider using more precise language in highly formal contexts, such as "approximately" or "nearly the same number".

Which is correct: "roughly as many" or "as many roughly"?

"Roughly as many" is the correct and standard phrasing. "As many roughly" is grammatically incorrect and not commonly used.