roughly less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly less than" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It can be used when you want to express an approximate value that is below a certain threshold, but it is better to use clearer alternatives. Example: "The population of the town is roughly less than 10,000."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Though Mr. Zoellick made the most news in calling for help for middle-income countries, he noted that a big challenge would be to raise money from donor nations over the next three years for the 81 poorest countries, defined as those with per capita income of roughly less than $1,000.

The New York Times

Not all of them are from Texas but, even if they were, that would amount to roughly less than half of 1% of the state's total population or, to put it another way, roughly 1/28 as many Texans as voted for Mr Obama (he may have lost Texas decisively, but he still won more votes there than he did in Illinois, Pennsylvania or Massachusetts).

The Economist

The asymmetric flames, in particular, vanish for channel heights roughly less than twice the laminar flame thickness.

Combustion and Flame

Assessments revealed that roughly less than 10% of West Chatham Island is free of invasive or nonnative species (Table  2).

Ecological Processes

Furthermore, surfactants formed hemimicelle structure on the mica surface with a thickness roughly less than that of the molecule chain length, which is in good agreement with experimental AFM data.

Chemical Engineering Science

If γ is small (roughly, less than 0.26), then, as τ increases, there is a reverse pitchfork bifurcation (BP) to a non-selective periodic orbit (R3) such as shown in Fig. 7B2.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

One-bedrooms will sell for about $350,000 and two-bedrooms for about $550,000, roughly 20 percent less than original asking prices.

The New York Times

But overall, the NHS deficit may tumble this financial year to about £1.4bn (roughly £1bn less than the previous year), the report went on.

The Guardian

Traber, a left-hander from Loyola Marymount University, signed with the Mets for about $400,000, roughly $1.3 million less than what the Mets were willing to pay before a routine M.R.I. test revealed potential problems with his pitching elbow.

The New York Times - Sports

Ms. Baker said the board planned a balanced budget for next year, amounting to about $32 million, or roughly 25percentt less than usual.

The New York Times

Whirlpool, the appliance maker, said it expected fourth-quarter earnings of about 98 cents a share, roughly 30percentt less than Wall Street estimates, according to First Call/ Thomson Financial.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, consider replacing "roughly less than" with more precise alternatives like "approximately under" or "nearly below", especially in formal writing. Always evaluate if using more specific figures instead of approximations would improve the accuracy and impact of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly less than" excessively. Over-reliance on approximations can make your writing seem vague or imprecise. Strive for specific numbers when possible to enhance credibility and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly less than" functions as an approximative qualifier. It indicates that a value is estimated to be below a certain threshold. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase can be replaced with clearer alternatives for better precision.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "roughly less than" serves to indicate an approximate value that is below a certain amount. While it is understandable, Ludwig suggests that it is often beneficial to use more precise and clearer alternatives, such as "approximately under" or "nearly below". As the examples in Ludwig demonstrate, it appears in both news and scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral register. To improve clarity and precision in writing, it is recommended to consider more direct language or specific numbers whenever possible. This approach can enhance the credibility and impact of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately under

Replaces "roughly less than" with a more direct and common way to express approximation below a certain amount.

about below

Uses simpler language to indicate an approximate value that is lower than a specific number.

nearly below

Implies the value is close to but not exceeding a certain threshold.

in the vicinity of less than

More formal way to express the approximate value is slightly below.

on the order of less than

Indicates the quantity is within a magnitude less than a specific value.

something short of

Less direct, implying an amount that does not quite reach a certain value.

not quite up to

Suggests the value almost reaches a certain point but falls slightly short.

close to, but not exceeding

Explicitly states the value is near but does not go over a specific limit.

not much over

Highlights the small difference between the value and the specified limit.

just shy of

Idiomatic expression meaning very slightly less than.

FAQs

How can I use "roughly less than" in a sentence?

The phrase "roughly less than" is used to indicate an approximate amount that is below a certain value. For example: "The cost is roughly less than $100". However, it's often clearer to use alternatives such as "approximately under $100" or "nearly below $100".

What can I say instead of "roughly less than"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately under", "nearly below", or "about below" depending on the context.

Is "roughly less than" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "roughly less than" is not the most elegant or standard phrasing. It's generally better to opt for clearer constructions like "approximately less than" or simply rephrase the sentence for better readability.

When is it appropriate to use "roughly less than"?

It is appropriate when you want to provide an estimation that is below a certain threshold but the exact amount isn't crucial. However, always consider if a more precise term or rephrasing could improve clarity. Consider using alternatives like "approximately under" for increased clarity.