roughly interpreted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly interpreted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to convey that something is being understood or explained in a general or approximate manner, rather than with precision. Example: "The results of the study can be roughly interpreted to suggest a correlation between exercise and improved mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The Kadazan Dusun people believe Mt Kinabalu is a sacred place – its name can be roughly interpreted as meaning "the revered place of the dead".

The Guardian

"You know?" Roughly interpreted, the bootylicious ethos suggests -- to paraphrase a cheesy tune from another era -- that "everything is beautiful in its own way".

The New York Times

Mr. Millepied, whose fortuitous last name can be roughly interpreted as "thousand footed," was born in the south of France ("in a small town outside of Bordeaux"), raised in Senegal ("African dance is part of my upbringing") and is the son of a decathlete and a ballet teacher ("I've danced as soon as I could walk").

The New York Times

The change values in the last column can be roughly interpreted as chi-square statistics with 12 degrees of freedom.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Ahmed described the exhibit using the Islamic concept of ijtihad, which, roughly interpreted, means an ongoing practice of critical thinking and spiritual examination. .

Huffington Post

In the Colombian department of Santander, hormigas culonas (roughly interpreted as "large-bottomed ants") Atta laevigata are toasted alive and eaten.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Thus we can only roughly interpret the functional meaning of this network.

Plosone

These energies can roughly be interpreted as standard levels for each species and determine the concentrations of each type of carrier in the two bulk phases, as will be shown below.

Nanoscale Research Letters

And again, a rule R's being in force can roughly be interpreted in three ways: As requiring the subject to follow R, to accept R in a sense not requiring (general) following, or as independent of the subject's attitudes and intentional states towards R (see above, 1.2; 2.2.2).

SEP

Indeed, other state courts have interpreted roughly similar state statutes in similar ways.

The New York Times

Each neuroradiologist interpreted roughly half of the paired baseline and 3-year scans.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "roughly interpreted" when you want to convey an approximate understanding or explanation, especially when precision is not critical. It adds a layer of qualification, indicating the interpretation isn't definitive.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly interpreted" when a precise definition or interpretation is available. Overusing it can undermine the credibility of your explanation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly interpreted" functions as an adverbial modifier qualifying the verb "interpreted". It indicates the manner in which something is understood or explained. As Ludwig AI highlights, this suggests an approximate rather than precise understanding.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "roughly interpreted" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating an approximate understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, particularly science and news media. When using "roughly interpreted", ensure that precision is not required and consider alternatives such as "approximately understood" or "generally understood" to suit your specific context. Avoiding its overuse is crucial to maintain clarity and credibility. While not excessively common, "roughly interpreted" is a useful phrase to convey nuanced meaning when absolute precision isn't achievable or necessary. The phrase helps readers understand that you are providing an approximate rather than a definitive interpretation of events, text or data.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately understood

Emphasizes the lack of precision in the understanding.

generally understood

Highlights a common or widespread interpretation, possibly lacking specifics.

loosely translated

Specifically refers to translations that are not exact.

informally defined

Suggests a definition that is not strict or formal.

imprecisely defined

Indicates a lack of exactness in the definition.

estimated meaning

Focuses on the meaning being an approximation.

broadly construed

Highlights a wide or general interpretation.

in simple terms

Emphasizes that something has been explained in a easy way.

in layman's terms

Emphasizes that something has been explained for the general public.

more or less explained

Highlights the incomplete or imperfect nature of the explanation.

FAQs

What does "roughly interpreted" mean?

The phrase "roughly interpreted" suggests an approximate or general understanding of something, rather than a precise or exact one. It indicates that the interpretation is not definitive and may be subject to some variation or uncertainty.

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

You can use "roughly interpreted" to qualify an explanation or understanding, such as: "The data can be "roughly interpreted" as suggesting a trend, but more research is needed."

What are some alternatives to "roughly interpreted"?

Alternatives include "approximately understood", "generally understood", or "loosely translated", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "roughly interpreted" or "literally interpreted"?

The choice depends on the context. "Literally interpreted" implies a direct and exact understanding, while "roughly interpreted" suggests an approximate or non-exact understanding. Use "roughly interpreted" when the meaning is not precise.