roughly nobody

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly nobody" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that very few or almost no people are involved or affected by something. Example: "When the event was announced, roughly nobody showed up, indicating a lack of interest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Which was, roughly: nobody gets in the point guard's face.

The New York Times - Sports

(Is there a difference?) Before the event, a widely circulated memo was issued to those appearing at the Staples Center, theoretically to prevent wardrobe malfunctions and flashes of skin that might upset a theoretical audience of roughly nobody.

The New Yorker

Oh and to the shock of roughly nobody, but Los Angels Lakers' center Dwight Howard re-aggravated his shoulder injury in a crushing loss against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, Steve Nash's first game back in Phoenix since becoming a Laker.

The Guardian - Sport

His return to the private sector surprises roughly nobody.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

(The Latin expression is the society's motto; it translates roughly as "Take nobody's word for it").

The New York Times - Science

DAVIDSON: The real other problem, though, apart from how the military tribunals look, is that in this plan, there are forty-eight detainees who aren't going to get a military trial — roughly forty-eight, nobody knows exactly — who are just going to be held indefinitely without a tribunal or a trial.

The New Yorker

Then there's model error, which, roughly speaking, means that nobody is God.

The New Yorker

As the Royal Society's website explains, "Nullius in verba roughly translates as 'take nobody's word for it'.

Huffington Post

Cane cutting is seasonal work, roughly January to June, and nobody used to bother much about what happened to the cane cutters in the dead season.

The Economist

Fortunately none of this matters to the customers, who simply want a service that makes their lives richer.Nobody knows even roughly how many microfinance institutions there are.

The Economist

The jazz avant-garde is a problematic notion: everybody knows roughly what it means, but nobody knows where it begins and ends.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "roughly nobody" to soften a statement about the complete absence of people, suggesting a very small number instead.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly nobody" in highly formal or academic writing; opt for more precise language like "almost no one" or "very few people."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly nobody" functions as a quantifier, modifying an implied noun (people). It indicates a near-zero quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is considered valid and can be used in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly nobody" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that very few, or almost no, people are involved or affected by something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in English. While "roughly nobody" appears most commonly in news and media, better alternatives for formal and academic writing include phrases like "almost no one" or "practically no one". Use "roughly nobody" when aiming for a slightly softened expression that still communicates a minimal human presence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost no one

Focuses on the near absence of individuals.

practically no one

Emphasizes the lack of a significant number of people.

virtually no one

Highlights the effective absence of people.

hardly anyone

Suggests a scarcity of individuals.

scarcely anyone

Similar to "hardly anyone", emphasizing rarity.

barely anyone

Indicates a minimal presence of people.

next to nobody

Emphasizes the extreme lack of people.

a handful of people at best

Expresses a few people if that.

negligible number of people

Focuses on how tiny the number of people is.

an insignificant amount of people

Emphasizes that the number of people doesn't matter.

FAQs

What does "roughly nobody" mean?

The phrase "roughly nobody" means almost no one or very few people. It implies a quantity so small it's practically nonexistent.

What can I say instead of "roughly nobody"?

You can use alternatives like "almost no one", "practically no one", or "virtually no one" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "roughly nobody"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, although it is less common than alternatives such as "almost nobody". Ludwig AI analysis suggests that it is fine to use this expression.

When is it appropriate to use "roughly nobody"?

It is appropriate to use "roughly nobody" when you want to emphasize that a group is extremely small or negligible, often in informal contexts.