roughly everyone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly everyone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a large majority of people are included, but not necessarily every single person. Example: "At the event, roughly everyone seemed to enjoy the keynote speaker's presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But then roughly everyone on the Cowboys got injured.

The New York Times

We came up with a name for the expedition – Jangano! – a Shona word meaning, roughly, "everyone working together for the common good".

The Guardian - Travel

As a result, a lot of festival-goers are wary around security – particularly those inclined to bring bags of illegal substances along with them, which, these days, is roughly everyone.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

What about the Scandinavian concept of Jantelagen (an ethos that, roughly, means everyone is the same).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But when Mr. Bush declares (as he often does on the stump) that his tax cut will cost $1 trillion, when his own budget numbers indicate that the right number is roughly $1.6 trillion, everyone shrugs.

The New York Times

By roughly 11 p.m., everyone was in bed.

The New York Times

Roughly half of everyone logging on to the Internet did so through AOL.

The New Yorker

The Schuylerville was roughly run by everyone but Gold Mover, the daughter of Gold Fever.

The New York Times - Sports

Verstappen led from lap 44, which was roughly the time everyone started concentrating on the race.

The Guardian - Sport

The basic premise of this line of argument would be that burdens should be roughly equivalent for everyone.

SEP

TechCrunch put together a list that was, roughly, Apple v. Everyone regarding iOS 9. What else could be called a reprise?

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "roughly everyone" when you want to indicate that nearly all people are included but without making an absolute claim. This is useful when precision is not essential or when complete accuracy is uncertain.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly everyone" when you intend to convey complete inclusion. Phrases like "everyone" or "all" are more accurate when absolute certainty is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly everyone" functions as an approximating quantifier, modifying the pronoun "everyone". It indicates that the statement applies to nearly all individuals in a given group, acknowledging a degree of imprecision. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly everyone" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that acts as an approximating quantifier. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, serving the purpose of generalizing about a group while acknowledging potential exceptions. As per Ludwig AI, the phrase's neutral register and adaptability make it suitable for many scenarios, although it is less common than alternatives like "almost everyone" or "nearly everyone". Remember to avoid overstating inclusion by using the phrase, ensuring you appropriately reflect a degree of imprecision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost everyone

Indicates a near-total inclusion, very similar to "roughly everyone" but with a slightly stronger implication of completeness.

nearly everyone

Similar to "almost everyone", suggesting a high degree of inclusion with a minor degree of exclusion.

basically everyone

Suggests that the core group is included, but the peripherals may be excluded.

virtually everyone

Emphasizes the very high proportion included, bordering on complete inclusion.

practically everyone

Conveys that for all practical purposes, everyone is included.

the majority of people

Refers to more than half of the population.

most people

Indicates that the greater number of individuals within a group is being referred to.

a large number of people

Highlights quantity, focusing on the substantial size of the group being referenced.

the bulk of individuals

Suggests the main body or larger part of a group.

a significant portion of people

Emphasizes the importance or notable size of the group.

FAQs

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

You can use "roughly everyone" to indicate that a large majority of people are included, but not necessarily every single person. Example: "At the event, "roughly everyone" seemed to enjoy the keynote speaker's presentation."

What's the difference between "roughly everyone" and "almost everyone"?

Both "roughly everyone" and "almost everyone" suggest a near-total inclusion, but "almost everyone" may imply a slightly higher degree of completeness.

Which is more formal, "roughly everyone" or "nearly everyone"?

Both "roughly everyone" and "nearly everyone" are suitable for most contexts. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey, with neither being significantly more formal than the other.

What can I say instead of "roughly everyone"?

You can use alternatives like "basically everyone", "virtually everyone", or "practically everyone" depending on the context.