roughly fast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly fast" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is fast but not precisely or exactly so, indicating an approximation. Example: "The car was roughly fast enough to keep up with the race leaders, but it lacked the final burst of speed needed to overtake them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The best hypothesis about the US economy this past year and more is that it has been steadily adding jobs at a pace roughly fast enough to keep up with but not get ahead of population growth.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Fired from the longer 40.74 cm barrel of the PS90, the muzzle velocity of SS195LF is roughly faster, and the muzzle velocity of SS197SR is roughly faster.

Wikipedia

RDCs measured between two nuclei i and j carry information regarding the orientation distribution of their internuclear vector relative to the applied magnetic field, averaged over all orientations sampled at a rate roughly faster than milliseconds.

Accounts of Chemical Research

(The latter is roughly how fast Olympic medallists in that distance run).

The New Yorker

Through the first eight months of the year, exports to China were up 5.9 percent, which is roughly as fast as that nation's economy appears to be growing.

Independent

The greens, which are just fairway grass cut short, hadn't been mowed in a while, and on the Stimpmeter, they were rolling roughly as fast as shag carpeting in a basement rec room.

The New York Times

By virtue of a design that minimizes aerodynamic drag and cuts weight to less than 1,300 pounds, it is able to go roughly as fast as cars that have twice as much horsepower and use twice as much fuel.

The New York Times

Then, using evidence from the fossil record about how quickly the two branches diverged, the group calculated roughly how fast genetic and anatomical differences must have emerged for each lineage over time.

Science Magazine

Indeed, Phelps's new world-record time in Omaha, 4 05.25, was nearly six seconds faster than his world-record time set in 2002 — and more than 100 seconds, or roughly 30percentt, faster than the first records set in the event some 55 years ago.

The New York Times - Sports

This difference increased and showed FARMS to be also significantly faster when the OLP-only (406 covariates) dataset was evaluated as FARMS completed the task roughly 10x faster than standard forward or stepwise approaches (F-test P value < 2.2 e − 16) (Table 1).

BioMed Research International

But such tweaking may not be enough in a roughly competitive, fast-cycling fashion environment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly fast", ensure the context clearly indicates what the speed is being compared to or approximated against. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly fast" when a more precise measurement or comparison is available. If you have specific data, provide it instead of relying on an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "roughly fast" is to act as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating an approximate speed. Ludwig provides examples where it describes the pace of job creation or compares speeds of different processes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "roughly fast" is a grammatically correct way to describe something that is approximately speedy. Ludwig's analysis of various sources indicates that it's most frequently used in news and media, followed by scientific contexts. While it's considered acceptable, it's crucial to consider the level of precision required by the context; if exact figures are known, using them is preferable. The phrase is suitable for neutral to slightly informal situations where conveying an approximate speed is sufficient. Considering all the different usage contexts, "roughly fast" is not extremely common in the English language, but it's correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately quick

Indicates speed with a slightly more formal tone than "roughly fast".

somewhat speedy

Suggests a degree of speed that is less intense than "roughly fast".

moderately fast

Emphasizes a middle ground of speed, slightly more precise than "roughly fast".

pretty fast

A more informal alternative, suggesting a similar level of speed in a casual context.

relatively rapid

Uses a synonym for "fast" and suggests a comparison to something else, adding context.

around the speed of

Focuses on comparing the speed to a known reference point, providing context.

in the vicinity of fast

More verbose and emphasizes an approximate range of speed.

close to fast

Indicates a proximity to being fast, implying it may not quite reach that level.

not far from fast

Similar to "close to fast" but emphasizes distance.

approaching fast

Suggests movement towards being fast, rather than already being at that speed.

FAQs

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

You can use "roughly fast" to describe something whose speed is an approximation. For example: "The car was "roughly fast" enough to keep up with the leaders."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "roughly fast"?

Alternatives include "approximately quick", "somewhat speedy", or "moderately fast", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it ever better to use a more precise term than "roughly fast"?

Yes, if precise data is available, it's generally better to use that data instead of an approximation like ""roughly fast"". Precision enhances credibility and understanding.

What does "roughly" imply when used with "fast"?

The word "roughly" implies that the speed is an estimate or approximation, rather than an exact measurement. It indicates a lack of precise data or a situation where precision isn't necessary.