roughly correct

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly correct" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that something is approximately accurate or close to the truth, but not exact. Example: "The calculations are roughly correct, but we should double-check the final numbers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Nevertheless, as the comparison of Figure 2A,B suggests, performing the correction with some roughly correct value for V ̄ r will always decrease the bias between K s and K m.

EJNMMI Research

That looks roughly correct to me.

The New York Times

These numbers are roughly correct.

The Washington Post

Others familiar with the agreement say that is roughly correct.

The New York Times

The theory revision, or concept revision, problem is to correct a given, roughly correct concept.

Artificial Intelligence

Still, if the polls continue to be roughly correct, this is where the horse race ends.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

After six in the evening, when cocktails made everything hazardous, one learned to tread carefully, for fear of splashing into an error that might be roughly corrected.

The New Yorker

The nonuniformity of the image due to Van Rhijn effect, atmospheric extinction, and nonuniform sensitivity of the imager at different pixels is roughly corrected by this step.

Earth, Planets and Space

Before the connection step, each image is converted to monochrome with green component for the pathological image or blue component for the macro image, and then initial positions of pathological images are roughly corrected manually.

Analytical Cellular Pathology

When prepared in roughly the correct proportions (75 percent saltpetre, 14 percent charcoal, and 11 percent sulfur), it burns rapidly when ignited and produces approximately 40 percent gaseous and 60 percent solid products, the latter mostly appearing as whitish smoke.

Encyclopedia Britannica

207 i.e. "Putrid"; called by Ptolemaeus (3.5.2) and other ancient writers "Byce"; now called by the Russians "Ghuiloje More". 208 Strabo does not specify whether in breadth, length, or perimeter: he must mean perimeter, in which case the figure is, roughly speaking, correct.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "roughly correct" when you want to convey that something is not perfectly accurate, but close enough for the purpose at hand. It acknowledges a degree of approximation without undermining the overall validity.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly correct" when precise figures are available or when accuracy is critical. In such cases, strive for exactness or acknowledge the margin of error explicitly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly correct" functions as a qualifying adjective phrase, modifying a noun or concept to indicate that it is approximately or nearly accurate. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability for expressing estimations rather than precise claims.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "roughly correct" is a common and acceptable way to indicate that something is approximately accurate but not perfectly exact. Ludwig AI and the included examples show that it appears across a variety of contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science, indicating it has a neutral register. When using "roughly correct", it's important to consider whether the context requires more precision. In formal settings, alternatives such as "approximately accurate" or "substantially correct" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately accurate

Indicates a similar level of precision, focusing on the accuracy being approximate.

fairly accurate

Suggests a reasonable degree of accuracy, slightly less emphatic than "roughly correct".

substantially accurate

Emphasizes that the accuracy is significant or considerable.

generally accurate

Highlights that the overall accuracy is good, despite potential minor discrepancies.

largely accurate

Indicates that the majority of something is accurate.

close to accurate

Indicates that something is near being totally correct.

nearly exact

Implies that the approximation is very close to being exact.

in the right ballpark

An idiomatic expression suggesting that an estimate or value is within a reasonable range.

more or less accurate

Suggests a degree of uncertainty, but still conveying an acceptable level of correctness.

not far off

Informal way to express that something is close to being accurate or correct.

FAQs

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

You can use "roughly correct" to indicate that something is approximately accurate but not perfectly exact. For example: "The estimated cost is roughly correct, but we need to get a precise quote."

What are some alternatives to "roughly correct"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately accurate", "fairly accurate", or "generally accurate" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "roughly correct" in formal writing?

While "roughly correct" is acceptable, consider using more precise alternatives like "approximately accurate" or "substantially correct" in formal writing to maintain a professional tone.

What is the difference between "roughly correct" and "exactly correct"?

"Roughly correct" implies an approximation, while "exactly correct" means there are no errors and the information is precise. They are antonyms.