roughly since

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly since" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate time frame when something began or has been occurring. Example: "The project has been in development roughly since 2015, and we expect to see results soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

But in the past 30 years, roughly since the assassination of Anwar el-Sadat, Nasser's successor, the country deteriorated.

The New York Times

It's been a while (two centuries, roughly) since the Roman Catholic Church closed down the Spanish Inquisition, even longer (three centuries, roughly) since it burned anyone at the stake, and longer still (six centuries, roughly) since the last time it conducted an armed crusade against heretics.

The New Yorker

She has been sick roughly since she last won a championship, which makes it easy to forget the five Wimbledons she won in nine years.

The New Yorker

Mr. Finn, chief executive of Ruder Finn, a big public relations firm, has fashioned figures out of paper clips roughly since he quit smoking 50 years ago.

The New York Times

The cannon however has fired a little less loudly in recent years, roughly since the Houston Dynamo moved over to the Eastern Conference back in 2011.

The Guardian - Sport

Even over a five-year span, roughly since Mr. Redstone separated the older broadcast TV business from the supposedly hipper cable network operations, Viacom's total shareholder return of around 40 percent matches Disney's and beats Time Warner's.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Yet since then commodity prices have slumped by about a quarter, and roughly 11% since June alone.

The Economist

The index has risen by roughly 8% since mid-March.

The Economist

Regeneron shares have roughly quintupled since the beginning of 2012.

The New York Times

Prices have roughly doubled since the beginning of the year.

The Economist

Student enrollment has roughly doubled since 2000, and 10 new buildings have gone up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider using "approximately since" as a slightly more elevated alternative to "roughly since".

Common error

Avoid using "roughly since" when you have precise data available. If you know the exact date or time, using it will enhance the credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly since" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun phrase. It specifies an approximate starting point or duration of an action or state. The phrase indicates an estimation of time, rather than a precise measurement. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

24%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "roughly since" is a useful prepositional phrase for indicating approximate timeframes. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While not overly formal, it provides a convenient way to express durations without strict precision. Consider alternatives like "approximately since" or "around since" depending on the desired level of formality and context. Remember to avoid using "roughly since" when precise data is available to maintain accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately since

Emphasizes the approximate nature of the time frame but uses a more formal tone.

about since

A slightly less formal way to express the same concept of approximation.

around since

Similar to "about since" but can also imply a less precise timeframe.

in the neighborhood of since

More verbose and emphasizes the approximate range of the starting point.

in the vicinity of since

Similar to "in the neighborhood of since", but slightly more formal.

in the ballpark of since

An informal way to indicate an approximate time, borrowed from sports terminology.

more or less since

Highlights the inexactness of the timeframe and allows for some deviation.

give or take since

Indicates a degree of uncertainty and the potential for a small error.

close to since

Implies that the actual starting point is near a particular time.

something like since

Less formal and suggests a rough estimation of the time.

FAQs

What does "roughly since" mean?

The phrase "roughly since" means approximately or about the time that something started. It indicates an imprecise timeframe.

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

You can use it to indicate the approximate start of an event or condition, like: "The company has been profitable "roughly since 2010"."

What can I say instead of "roughly since"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately since", "about since", or "around since".

Is it better to use "roughly since" or "approximately since"?

"Approximately since" is more formal and may be preferred in academic or professional writing, while "roughly since" is suitable for more informal contexts.