roughly same

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly same" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "roughly the same." You can use it when comparing two or more items that are similar in some way but not identical. Example: "The two proposals are roughly the same in terms of cost and scope."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

With roughly same squad.

The Guardian - Sport

Macrophages internalise roughly same amounts of all bead types.

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

The total computing effort is roughly same with the finite difference scheme.

Physics Letters A

Crouch, weeping, on bare, filthy surface, like bathroom floor, for roughly same amount of time as affair.

The New York Times

Covering similar ground is a much-loved work of the roughly same vintage as Ms. Rosler's video: Robert Gober's photolithograph of a page from The New York Times on July 19 , 1992 modified to show Mr. Gober as an elegant but wistful bride in a wedding-dress advertisement.

The New York Times - Arts

Johnson had previously noticed that a black widow's eggs were usually all the same size and that spiderlings hatched and molted at the roughly same time — something he thought might occur by design, to keep spiderlings at the same stage of development.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Generally, the oral health of these 46-year-old adults was better than that of the roughly same-age participants from the previous Health 2000 Survey in Finland [ 25].

BMC Public Health

They're all roughly the same size, with roughly the same user interface.

MIT Technology Review

Everyone pays roughly the same.

The New York Times

The cost is roughly the same.

Independent

They are roughly the same height.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "roughly the same" instead of "roughly same" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "the" before "same." Saying "roughly same" is grammatically incorrect and sounds awkward to native English speakers. Use "roughly the same" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly same" functions as a modifier, aiming to describe a noun by indicating an approximate similarity. However, it's grammatically incomplete as it should be "roughly the same". Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "roughly same" is a grammatically incorrect way to express approximate similarity. The correct version is "roughly the same." Ludwig AI highlights the grammatical error. While the phrase appears across various contexts, including scientific and news media, it's essential to include the article "the" for grammatical accuracy. Alternatives like "approximately the same" or "about the same" can be used. Remember to always prioritize grammatical correctness in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Approximately the same

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately" and adds the definite article "the" for grammatical correctness.

About the same

Uses a simpler adjective, "about", instead of "roughly" and includes the article "the".

More or less the same

Emphasizes the slight variability in the approximation, adding a nuance of imprecision.

Roughly equivalent

Substitutes "same" with the adjective "equivalent", maintaining the approximate meaning.

In the same ballpark

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey approximate equality, suitable for informal contexts.

Almost identical

Suggests a high degree of similarity, bordering on being exactly the same, but not quite.

Substantially similar

Highlights the significant degree of likeness, often used in formal contexts.

Comparatively equal

Focuses on the comparative aspect, indicating that the items being compared are nearly equal.

Virtually identical

Implies a very close resemblance, to the point where differences are negligible.

On par with

Indicates that something is at the same level or standard as something else.

FAQs

How to correctly use the phrase "roughly the same" in a sentence?

Use "roughly the same" to indicate that two or more things are nearly equal or similar. For example, "The two options cost "roughly the same" amount."

What are some alternatives to "roughly the same"?

Alternatives include "approximately the same", "about the same", or "more or less the same". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "roughly same"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is ""roughly the same"". The article "the" is essential for proper grammar.

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

"Roughly the same" implies an approximation or near equality, while "exactly the same" indicates perfect equality. For example, two items that are "exactly the same" are identical, whereas two items that are "roughly the same" are similar but not identical.