roughly five hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly five hours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating a duration of time that is not exact but close to five hours. Example: "The meeting will take roughly five hours, so please plan accordingly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

GETTING THERE Direct flights from Kennedy Airport by TACA airlines take roughly five hours and run daily.

The New York Times

The drive to Uluru Kata Tjuta from Alice Springs takes roughly five hours via the Stuart and Lasseter highways.

The Guardian - Travel

Kay generally made between $200 and $300 a night, for roughly five hours' work, but any money earned was immediately spent on drugs.

Yale University

The expulsion followed roughly five hours of closed-door negotiations among Senate Democrats, though Mr. Monserrate was asked to leave the room for part of the deliberations.

The New York Times

But the teachers -- who complain that the roughly five hours a day they already spend with students is more than enough -- have other ideas.

The New York Times

To the Editor: The article "36 Hours in Toulouse" (July 20) says you can get to Toulouse from Paris Gare Montparnasse by train in roughly five hours.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The tour runs roughly four hours.

The New York Times - Arts

My blinding date with the car lasted roughly three hours.

The New York Times

Direct trains from Birmingham or London take roughly two hours.

The Guardian - Travel

His norm is about 20 waves in roughly two hours.

The New York Times - Sports

He has roughly two hours of homework a night.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly five hours", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the time is an estimate and not an exact measurement. This phrase is suitable for situations where precision is not critical.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly five hours" when you have precise time data. If the duration is known exactly, state the precise duration instead of using an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly five hours" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb by specifying the approximate duration of an action or event. It is used to provide an estimation of time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly five hours" is a versatile phrase used to estimate a duration of time, frequently appearing in various contexts from news reports to academic discussions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and general applicability. While alternatives like "approximately five hours" exist, "roughly five hours" strikes a balance between precision and informality, making it suitable for everyday communication. Remember to use it when precision isn't essential and consider more exact language when it is.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately five hours

This alternative uses "approximately" instead of "roughly", indicating a similar level of estimation but with a slightly more formal tone.

close to five hours

Using "close to" suggests that the actual duration is very near to five hours, with minimal variation.

around five hours

Substituting "around" for "roughly" maintains a casual tone while indicating an approximate duration.

nearly five hours

Similar to "close to", "nearly" indicates that the duration is just shy of five hours.

about five hours

Using "about" provides a less precise estimation than "roughly", suggesting a more general timeframe.

more or less five hours

This alternative explicitly acknowledges the potential for slight deviation from the stated duration.

just about five hours

This variation adds a touch of casualness, suggesting the duration is very close to five hours.

in the neighborhood of five hours

This phrase offers a more descriptive way of saying approximately five hours, emphasizing that the duration falls within a certain range.

an estimated five hours

This phrase replaces "roughly" with "an estimated", emphasizing that the time is a calculated approximation.

in the vicinity of five hours

This phrase is a more formal substitute for "roughly five hours", indicating an approximate time frame.

FAQs

How can I use "roughly five hours" in a sentence?

You can use "roughly five hours" to indicate an estimated duration, such as, "The journey will take "roughly five hours", so pack accordingly."

What's a more formal alternative to "roughly five hours"?

A more formal alternative is "approximately five hours", which provides a similar meaning but with a slightly elevated tone.

Is it appropriate to use "roughly five hours" in academic writing?

Yes, "roughly five hours" is acceptable in academic writing when you need to provide an estimate. However, if precise data is available, it is better to use the exact duration.

What are some other ways to express an approximate duration of five hours?

Other options include "about five hours", "around five hours", or "nearly five hours", depending on the level of precision and formality you want to convey.