roughly no

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly no" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used informally to indicate an approximate or vague negation, but it is not commonly accepted. Example: "When asked if he would attend the meeting, his response was roughly no, indicating he was unlikely to go."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"We were able to provide a measure of safety for our seniors at roughly no cost to taxpayers," said the Bronx Borough President, Fernando Ferrer.

The New York Times

Come to think of it, that French expression — "On est à l'abri nulle part" — or, roughly, "no place is a safe haven" — is not a bad one for these times.

The New York Times

The answer is roughly 'No'.

Functional Linguistics

The Secretary of Transportation required drivers of commercial motor vehicles involved in interstate commerce to log their miles into a device to make sure they do not drive too many consecutive miles (roughly no more than 11 hours under certain conditions).

TechCrunch

1. Trail Mix: A serving of store-bought trail mix is a measly quarter-cup, a serving size that roughly no one will stick to.

Huffington Post

Scrivener noted that "The vellum has fallen into holes in many places, and since the ink peels off for very age whensoever a leaf is touched a little roughly, no one is allowed to handle the manuscript except for good reasons".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

We ate soba hatto, which means roughly "soba no-no" and comes from a time when common folk were not allowed to eat soba.

The New York Times - Travel

At a price tag of roughly $8.1 billion, no buyer immediately emerged.

The New York Times

They called themselves "natural philosophers," and their motto was "Nullius in verba": roughly, take no one's word for anything.

The New York Times - Books

However, unlike the Indian Premier League that has set a light under cricket on the subcontinent and on which it is roughly modelled, no individual bids were released.

The Guardian - Sport

There was only one catch: it held 80 people and, if we wanted it all to ourselves in January, I would have to pay the roughly $100,000 no matter how many people eventually showed up.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly no", ensure the context makes it clear you are providing an approximation of a negative amount or quantity. This can help avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly no" in formal writing. Although understandable, it lacks the precision expected in professional or academic contexts. Opt for clearer alternatives like "almost no" or "practically no".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly no" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with a negation. It modifies a statement to indicate an approximate absence or near-zero quantity. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is not standard but is acceptable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "roughly no" is used to indicate an approximate absence or near-zero quantity. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is acceptable, but not standard English. Its usage is more common in news, media, and scientific contexts, but less suited for formal writing where precision is key. Alternatives like "almost no" or "approximately not" may be preferred. The examples show that while not grammatically incorrect, its informal nature should be considered based on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately not

Emphasizes the lack of precision and indicates an estimation close to negation.

almost no

Highlights a situation where the quantity or amount is very close to zero.

practically no

Indicates that something is so close to nothing that it can be considered as such.

virtually no

Similar to 'practically no', suggesting the effect is equivalent to having none.

scarcely any

Indicates a small quantity that is barely present or noticeable.

hardly any

Suggests that the quantity or degree is very small or minimal.

just about no

Highlights the proximity to nothing.

in effect no

Means the outcome is the same as having none, even if technically something exists.

pretty much no

A more informal way to indicate near negation.

nigh on no

An archaic or dialectal phrase expressing approximation to zero.

FAQs

What does "roughly no" mean?

The phrase "roughly no" indicates an approximate or vague negation. It suggests a quantity or amount that is close to zero, but the speaker is not being precise.

Is "roughly no" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "roughly no" is an unconventional phrase. It's better to use more standard alternatives like "almost no" or "practically no", especially in formal writing.

When should I use "roughly no"?

Use "roughly no" in informal contexts where a precise negative value isn't necessary. In formal settings, opt for more precise alternatives.

What are some alternatives to "roughly no"?

You can use alternatives such as "approximately not", "almost no", or "practically no" depending on the context.