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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
roughly time
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
'roughly time' is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
You can use 'approximately' or 'about' to indicate the approximate amount of time something will take. For example, "It will take approximately an hour for me to finish this task."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
It is called "Pora valit", which means roughly "Time to shove off".
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
For ICU patients, extra reimbursement is calculated per ICU day, which is increasing from category 1 to category 3 units by a factor of roughly times 1.5.
Science
Carr gave him two minutes to respond -- roughly the time candidates get during real debates.
News & Media
Without flight the epidemic takes roughly 600 time periods to cross the lattice.
Science
The values in Table 7 follow roughly the time complexity predicted in Methods section.
Science
Generally, it is observed that the width of a face is roughly two times of the distance, and the height is roughly three times.
FGFR1 was roughly 3.8 times as prevalent as FGFR3, while FGFR2 was roughly 2.8 times as prevalent as FGFR3.
Today, the price is roughly twenty times as high.
News & Media
So far, this has happened roughly eight times per day.
News & Media
Today, California has roughly seventy times more people than Wyoming.
News & Media
In other words, they were outspent by roughly 33 times.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When needing to approximate time, use established phrases such as "approximately", "about", or "around" followed by the specific time reference. This ensures clarity and grammatical correctness.
Common error
Do not directly combine "roughly" with "time" as a single phrase. Instead, use "roughly" to modify a time-related measurement (e.g., "roughly three hours") or use alternative phrases like "approximately that "time"".
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "roughly time" is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI indicates it's not a standard phrase in English. The correct usage involves using "roughly" to modify a unit of time (e.g., "roughly an hour"). The available examples provide context where "roughly" modifies a numerical value associated with time.
Frequent in
Science
50%
News & Media
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "roughly time" is not considered a grammatically correct or standard phrase in English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While the intention might be to express an approximation related to time, it's best to use alternative phrasing, such as "approximate time", "around that time", or using "roughly" to modify a specific time unit (e.g., "roughly an hour"). Using clearer, grammatically sound alternatives enhances communication and avoids confusion. Authoritative sources lean toward using "roughly" to modify quantities of time, rather than using the phrase directly.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
approximate time
Replaces "roughly" with "approximate", providing a slightly more formal and precise estimation of time.
estimated time
Substitutes "roughly" with "estimated", suggesting a calculated guess rather than a vague approximation of time.
about that time
Uses "about" instead of "roughly", indicating a less precise and more casual reference to a specific time.
around that time
Replaces "roughly" with "around", offering a similar level of imprecision while emphasizing a general timeframe.
in that timeframe
Replaces the whole query with "in that timeframe", expressing the idea of a specific period of time.
during that period
Substitutes "roughly time" with "during that period", focusing on a duration rather than a specific moment.
give or take
This is an idiomatic expression used to indicate that a number or amount is approximate. It's not a direct substitution for "roughly time" but expresses a similar idea of estimation.
in the vicinity of
Offers a more formal way to express approximation, suitable for contexts requiring precision.
thereabouts
This single word indicates an approximate amount or time, offering a concise alternative.
more or less
Suggests that the time is not exact but close to the stated amount.
FAQs
How can I appropriately use "roughly" in a sentence related to time?
Use "roughly" to modify a time measurement, such as "roughly two hours" or "roughly 30 minutes". This provides an approximation of a specific duration.
What's a more formal way to say "roughly" when referring to time?
For a more formal tone, use "approximately" or "in the vicinity of" before specifying the time. For example, "approximately two hours" or "in the vicinity of two hours".
Is "roughly time" considered grammatically correct?
No, "roughly time" is not a standard or grammatically correct phrase in English. Use alternative phrasing like "approximate time" or "around that time" instead.
What are some alternatives to using "roughly" when talking about duration?
Alternatives include "about", "around", "nearly", or "almost". For instance, "about an hour", "around an hour", "nearly an hour", or "almost an hour".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested