roughly in line

USAGE SUMMARY

'roughly in line' is a correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is similar to, in agreement with, or in conformity with something else. For example: "The salary offered at the job was roughly in line with what I was expecting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The rate is roughly in line with national norms.

The Guardian

That is roughly in line with Bizrate's projections.

The New York Times

Its performance has been roughly in line with the natural resources category this year.

The New York Times

His estimate was roughly in line with that of most private forecasters.

The New York Times

Revenue fell 7percenttoto $2.9 billion, from $3.1 billion, roughly in line with estimates.

The New York Times

In the early days, revenue grew roughly in line with headcount, albeit from a small base.

The New York Times

Those estimates are roughly in line with most forecasts for the next year or two.

The New York Times

He said the final sale price was roughly in line with what he had expected.

The New York Times

The rating of the market is roughly in line with long-term averages.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The new forecast is roughly in-line with general projections.

Forbes

Those figures point to a roughly in-line sequential profit expectation and margin forecast.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In financial reporting or project management, use the phrase to manage expectations by acknowledging that results are near anticipated targets, accounting for minor variations.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly in line" when there are significant discrepancies. Misusing the phrase can mislead readers or stakeholders about the actual degree of similarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly in line" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause to indicate the degree of agreement or similarity. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is acceptable and commonly used. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use to describe estimates, results, and trends.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

11%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "roughly in line" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate that something is approximately similar or consistent with something else. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It functions as an adverbial phrase, primarily used to convey approximation and alignment, often found in news, business, and scientific contexts. While the phrase is appropriate for formal use, it maintains a neutral tone, making it suitable for various communicative purposes. Alternatives like "approximately aligned" or "generally consistent" can be used to add nuance or adjust the level of formality. Overall, "roughly in line" is a reliable way to communicate a reasonable degree of agreement without implying exact precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly comparable

Simply replaces "in line" with "comparable" maintaining a similar level of accuracy and directness.

approximately aligned

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately" and "in line" with "aligned", emphasizing a less precise agreement.

in approximate agreement

Highlights the agreement aspect, suggesting that values tend to concur but not with complete precision.

generally consistent

Substitutes "roughly in line" with a more direct expression of consistency, implying a broad agreement rather than precise correspondence.

more or less matching

Replaces the phrase with a more conversational expression of similarity, indicating a close but not exact match.

in the same ballpark

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey that values are close, although not necessarily exactly the same.

broadly comparable

Emphasizes the ability to compare values across a wider range, suggesting they are similar in a general sense.

almost identical

Conveys a very high degree of similarity, close to being the same but allowing for minor discrepancies.

nearly equivalent

Indicates that values are functionally the same, with minimal differences.

along the same lines

Emphasizes similarity in direction or principle rather than a precise numerical comparison.

FAQs

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

You can use "roughly in line" to indicate that two or more things are similar or consistent with each other. For instance, "The company's profits were roughly in line with analysts' expectations."

What are some alternatives to saying "roughly in line"?

Instead of "roughly in line", you could use alternatives like "approximately aligned", "generally consistent", or "in the same ballpark" depending on the level of formality and precision required.

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

Yes, "roughly in line" is suitable for formal writing, especially when you want to indicate that figures or results are reasonably consistent without implying an exact match. It conveys a degree of accuracy without overstating precision.

What's the difference between "roughly in line" and "exactly the same"?

"Roughly in line" suggests an approximate agreement or similarity, while "exactly the same" indicates complete identity. If two values are "roughly in line", they are close but not identical. If they are "exactly the same", there is no difference between them.