roughly four generations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly four generations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when estimating or approximating the number of generations in a family lineage or historical context. Example: "The tradition has been passed down through roughly four generations, shaping our family's identity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

There are roughly four generations of students.

Wikipedia

In 1728, James Monro became Bethlem's chief physician, initiating a Monro family dynasty that lasted for roughly four generations.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Il Trovatore" remained until roughly two generations ago the most beloved of his creations.

The New York Times - Arts

Nolan's film is set roughly two generations hence, in a grim, shrunken, retrograde era.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human populations reproduce at the rate of roughly three generations per century, but new insect generations arise in a matter of days or weeks.

The New Yorker

The old model used a 28 nanometer chip design, which is roughly three generations from current semiconductor technology.

Forbes

The main question is to explore what may be the stakes of political struggle, and the modes of political interest mobilization, decision-making, and accountability of elites roughly two generations from now into the future, say in the 2060s and beyond.

Duke University

That was the basic theme, and it played out pretty much from the instant World War II was over right up to the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union -- roughly two generations' worth of time.

Huffington Post

After a period of only 3 years (roughly six generations), an evolutionary response was apparent.

Evolutionary Applications

We assessed impacts of the programs on neutral genetic diversity in this metapopulation using 16 microsatellite loci and a thirty-year dataset spanning before and after supplementation, roughly eight generations.

Evolutionary Applications

In fact, roughly one billion people in China alone have been lifted out of poverty in about two generations.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly four generations", ensure the context implies an estimation or approximation of time or lineage, rather than a precise count. For example, "The family business has been passed down through "roughly four generations", preserving its traditions."

Common error

Avoid using "roughly four generations" when precision is required. If you have exact data, state the specific number of generations instead of using an approximation. For example, instead of saying "The artifact is "roughly four generations" old," use a specific age range if known.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly four generations" functions as an adverbial modifier of quantity, providing an approximate measure of the number of generations. It modifies a noun phrase to indicate an estimation, similar to examples in Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "roughly four generations" is a grammatically sound and generally acceptable way to approximate a period or lineage spanning several generations. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While precise figures are always preferable, "roughly four generations" serves well in contexts where exact data is unavailable, spanning across news, wiki and scientific discussions. For more formal settings, consider "approximately four generations".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately four generations

Uses "approximately" instead of "roughly", offering a more formal tone.

about four generations

Replaces "roughly" with "about", providing a simpler and more casual alternative.

around four generations

Substitutes "roughly" with "around", indicating an estimation or nearness to four generations.

in the neighborhood of four generations

Offers a more descriptive way of expressing an approximate quantity of generations.

in the vicinity of four generations

A more formal and somewhat less common way to indicate an approximate number of generations.

in the ballpark of four generations

Uses an idiom to indicate an approximate quantity of generations.

something like four generations

Expresses the idea of an approximation using "something like".

more or less four generations

Indicates a degree of variability around four generations.

give or take a few generations

Highlights the uncertainty in the number of generations.

three to five generations

Provides a specific range to estimate the number of generations.

FAQs

How can I use "roughly four generations" in a sentence?

You can use "roughly four generations" to estimate a period of time or lineage. For example, "The knowledge has been passed down through "approximately four generations"" or "The tradition spans "about four generations"".

What's a more formal alternative to "roughly four generations"?

A more formal alternative to "roughly four generations" is "approximately four generations". This maintains the meaning of estimation but sounds more polished.

What does "roughly" mean in "roughly four generations"?

In the phrase "roughly four generations", "roughly" indicates that the number is an approximation. It means "about" or "approximately" but not exactly four generations.

Is it appropriate to use "roughly four generations" in academic writing?

Yes, using "roughly four generations" can be appropriate in academic writing when you are providing an estimate and do not have precise data. However, be sure to contextualize the approximation by providing the basis for your estimation. You may also use "approximately four generations" for more formality.