roughly close

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly close" is somewhat redundant but can be used in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that something is approximately near or similar to something else, though it may not be exact. Example: "The measurements were roughly close to what we expected, indicating a successful experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Glenn Close is an actress whom people respect but don't give their love to, the way they do to, say, the living national treasure Meryl Streep, who is roughly Close's age peer and one of the few other American actresses who have some degree of majesty.

The New Yorker

Moreover, the tensile yield strength of the composites estimated using an equation published previously was roughly close to the measured data.

Composites Part B: Engineering

Of course, it's true that the Apple and Android app stores are roughly close in terms of the numbers of applications offered, and have been for some time.

TechCrunch

For a limiter with n1 turns AC coil and n2 turns DC coil, the largest induced voltage will be roughly close to (n2/n1 U, where U is the rated voltage of the limiter.

Physica C: Superconductivity

Clusters are mostly a homogeneous computing environment, where homogeneous nodes run in similar load conditions, and tasks of the same type tend to start and finish at roughly close times.

Journal of Cloud Computing

As a catalyst for ORR, the optimized NPCN-900 (pyrolyzed at 900 °C) displays positive onset potential at 0.92 V and 0.74 V (vs. RHE) in alkaline and acidic media respectively, which are roughly close to those of Pt/C (0.93 V and 0.80 V).

Carbon

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"Can't we just stop pretending that anything is ever going to be the new black?" Ms. O'Donnell asks roughly, closing the discussion.

The New York Times

When the temperature is 90°C, a few one-dimensional spindle-shaped aggregates consisting of roughly close-packed silver nanoparticles of about 10 nm could be found in Figure9b,c.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Moreover, Semambo and co-workers [ 5] reported approximately seven days half-life of PSPB, which is roughly closer to the present finding.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

In addition, the intermediate structures generated by our algorithm come roughly as close, if not closer, to the known homologs as those produced by Morph Server, as demonstrated in Table 1.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

So roughly speaking, close to 50% of the $58bn wiped off the value of Russia's biggest companies has been added so far back today.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly close", ensure the context requires an approximation rather than an exact value. Overusing it can make your writing appear imprecise, so use it strategically.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly close" when a precise measurement or value is expected. If exact data is available, presenting an approximation can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly close" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, indicating an approximate degree of proximity. As Ludwig AI explains, this expression signifies something is near, but not precisely so.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly close" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express an approximate degree of nearness or similarity. Ludwig AI confirms its general correctness, though its uncommon frequency suggests careful usage. It appears mainly in scientific and news contexts, signaling a neutral register with a slight leaning towards informality. When you need to convey that something is not exact but in the general vicinity, "roughly close" can be a useful choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately near

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately", keeping the meaning of nearness.

fairly near

Substitutes "roughly close" with "fairly near", emphasizing proximity but with a slight deviation.

in the vicinity of

Expresses approximate location or quantity.

nearly equal

Focuses on the concept of approximate equality rather than physical closeness.

almost the same

Indicates similarity with a margin of difference.

of comparable value

Highlights a similarity in value or worth.

in the neighborhood of

Informal expression for approximate quantity.

not far from

Indicates proximity in distance or concept.

give or take

Indicates an approximate amount with a possible margin of error.

in the ballpark

Informal expression for an approximate estimate.

FAQs

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

You can use "roughly close" to indicate that two values or quantities are approximately similar. For example: "The estimated cost was roughly close to the actual expense."

What can I say instead of "roughly close"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately near", "fairly near", or "nearly equal" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "roughly close" or "close to"?

"Close to" is generally more common. "Roughly close" emphasizes that the nearness is an approximation. For instance, compare "The temperature is close to 20 degrees" with "The temperature is roughly close to 20 degrees".

What is the difference between "roughly close" and "approximately equal"?

"Roughly close" implies nearness or proximity, while "approximately equal" focuses specifically on numerical equivalence with a slight margin of error. The best choice depends on the specific context.