roughly equal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly equal" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a general approximation of the equality or near-equality of two entities. For example, "The number of women and men in the company was roughly equal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Now the numbers are roughly equal.

The Economist

Before then, we earned roughly equal amounts.

The Guardian

Right now there are roughly equal numbers.

The New York Times

So suppose people bid Bi roughly equal to Yi.

Yale University

The entire tree structure has roughly equal local information density.

Stanford University

So people are bidding roughly equal to Yi.

Yale University

He gestured to indicate dimensions roughly equal to an elephant.

The New York Times

That is roughly equal to a normal month's growth.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was exhilarated, afraid and determined in roughly equal quantities".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Twenty minutes of moderate activity is roughly equal to 10 minutes of vigorous activity.

Harvard University

Since you are randomizing it must be the case that the returns are roughly equal.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly equal", ensure that the context implies an acceptable level of approximation. Specify the tolerance if precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly equal" when a higher degree of precision is expected or required. This phrase implies an estimation rather than an exact match.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly equal" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun to indicate that two or more things are approximately equivalent, rather than precisely identical. As Ludwig AI explains, it suggests a general approximation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0.1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "roughly equal" is a versatile qualifier used to express approximate equivalence across various domains. It is grammatically sound and commonly employed in news, academic, and scientific contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate to use it when precision is not paramount, and an estimation is sufficient. When considering alternatives, factors such as formality and the degree of similarity should be taken into account. Overall, "roughly equal" is a valuable tool for conveying estimations of equality in writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately equal

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately", indicating a similar level of precision.

close to equal

Expresses that the items are very near to being equal

almost the same

A simpler, more direct way of expressing near equality.

about the same

An informal expression to indicate a small difference between two entities

nearly identical

Implies a closer degree of similarity than "roughly equal".

more or less equal

Adds a degree of uncertainty, suggesting the equality isn't exact.

virtually equivalent

Emphasizes that the difference is so small, for all practical purposes, they are equivalent.

in the same ballpark

An informal way to express approximate equality, particularly of numerical values.

of comparable size

Focuses on size as the dimension of comparison, suitable when comparing physical or abstract magnitudes.

on par with

Suggests a similar level of quality or status, rather than a strict numerical equality.

FAQs

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

Use "roughly equal" to indicate that two or more things are approximately the same in quantity, size, or value. For example, "The number of apples and oranges were "roughly equal"".

What are some alternatives to saying "roughly equal"?

You can use alternatives such as "approximately equal", "nearly identical", or "more or less equal" depending on the desired level of precision.

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

While "roughly equal" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "approximately equal" or "virtually equivalent" might be preferred in academic or professional contexts.

What's the difference between "roughly equal" and "exactly equal"?

"Roughly equal" implies an approximation or estimation, while "exactly equal" indicates that two things are precisely the same. Using "roughly equal" suggests a small degree of tolerance or acceptable error.