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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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roughly change

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly change" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express an approximate alteration or adjustment, but the wording is awkward and unclear. Example: "The budget will roughly change next quarter, depending on our sales performance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Real change is (roughly) change involved in causing something, change an item is caused to undergo or change not "logically parasitic" on change in other things.

Science

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Some changes reflect roughly 300 comments that were submitted to the panel by seven outside reviewers before the draft copy leaked, while the decision to use the term "break even" was made before auto lobbyists began calling panel members.

News & Media

The New York Times

This roughly twofold change in the partition coefficient may lead to large differences in the concentration of dissolved Ra.

For this combination, a 40% decrease in CBF is predicted to result in a roughly 20% change in TTP.

A poll last month for the Climate Institute, a Sydney research body, found that 77% of people worried about climate change; roughly the same share thought the Liberal Party should back the legislation.

News & Media

The Economist

Analysis of the metabolite levels indicated that, whereas changes in glucose levels in control and Cdk1Liv−/− animals were roughly similar, changes caused by PH in pyruvate levels at the end of the glycolytic pathway were different.

Romanticism is a term loosely used to designate numerous and diverse changes in the arts during a period of more than 100 years (roughly, 1760 1870), changes that were in reaction against Neoclassicism (but not necessarily the classicism of Greece and Rome) or against what is variously called the Age of Reason, the Augustan Age, the Enlightenment, or 18th-century materialism.

Roughly, the changes in gene expression mediated by the genotypes were inversely correlated to changes mediated by the growth temperatures (Fig.  3c).

Roughly $13 billion changes hands between classic car collectors worldwide, according to Fuelist co-founder Thomas Rand-Nash.

News & Media

TechCrunch

On August 22nd, the day before the Obama campaign officially named Biden as the veep pick, Biden's Wiki page garnered roughly 40 changes.

News & Media

Huffington Post

The correlational maps at the same time intervals (Figure 7B) roughly reproduce changes in EEG power.

Science

Plosone
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "roughly change". Instead, use clearer alternatives like "approximately alter" or "estimate the change" for better readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Do not combine "roughly" directly with "change" as a verb. It is more appropriate to modify a verb that describes the change, such as "roughly estimate" or "roughly adjust".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly change" is an attempt to express an approximate alteration. However, as Ludwig AI notes, it is grammatically awkward. The intended function is to indicate that a change is not precise but rather an estimation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "roughly change" is grammatically incorrect and considered awkward in English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's better to use alternative phrasings such as "approximately alter", "estimate the change", or modify a verb to be "roughly estimate". Although contexts that contain related words (like News and Science) are common, it is more appropriate to refine this phrase to align with standard grammar conventions.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "roughly change" to be grammatically correct?

Instead of "roughly change", you can use phrases like "approximately alter", "estimate the change", or "roughly estimate" depending on the intended meaning.

What is a more formal alternative to "roughly change"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "approximately modify" or "estimate the adjustment" instead of "roughly change".

Is "roughly change" considered grammatically correct in English?

No, "roughly change" is not considered grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases that clearly separate the approximation from the act of changing, such as "roughly estimate".

When is it appropriate to use "roughly" in relation to "change"?

"Roughly" is best used to modify verbs associated with change, such as "roughly estimate the changes" or "roughly adjust". It is less appropriate to directly precede "change" as a verb.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: