roughly too much

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly too much" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express an excessive amount that is approximate, but the combination of "roughly" and "too much" is awkward and unclear. Example: "I think we have roughly too much food for the party, so we should consider scaling back."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death

WikiHow

The New York Times

The New York Times - Food

SEP

Vice

Forbes

Huffington Post

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

The New Yorker

The Guardian - Opinion

The Economist

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Roughly, too much (unwanted) apoptosis leads to cell loss disorders, like diabetes type 1, while too little apoptosis leads to cell proliferation disorders, like cancer [ 1– 3].

Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Some hermit crabs die because they get thrown around and played with too roughly or too much.

WikiHow

Social Security is paying roughly $50 million a year too much to people who collect state pensions but fail to declare that income, according to the system's inspector general.

The New York Times

In a nation of 170 million pets, many of them as beloved as children, that means that roughly 85 million are carrying too much weight.

The New York Times

SInNebraska to get the best oforICexamplea delivered sthereht to your inbox.

Vice

A bruschetta of bland tuna confit with bland baked ricotta, for instance, showered in too much garlic and roughly the size of a strip steak, might easily be interchanged with a similar dish served with whipped salt cod and smoked eggplant; they could stand in the same police lineup and confuse an eyewitness.

The New York Times - Food

The idea, roughly speaking, is that it is too much for us to be able to know how things must be beyond the limits of our experience, and so claim metaphysical knowledge of things-in-themselves.

SEP

Use a regular pencil to roughly sketch the outline of major shapes directly onto your canvas; don't worry about details or shading too much.

WikiHow

Today we have another worry: roughly the same number of people eat too much.

The New York Times - Books

For roughly 95-97% of Pandora users out there, this news about Pandora One may not ultimately mean too much.

TechCrunch

Roughly 100,000 apartments citywide are in buildings that are carrying too much debt, with the money owed on them greater than their current worth, according to the department.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, avoid using "roughly" directly before "too much". Rephrase to be more precise or use alternatives like "approximately excessive".

Common error

Don't combine "roughly" and "too much" if a more precise estimate or stronger statement of excess is possible. Ambiguity can weaken your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly too much" functions as a modifier expressing an approximate quantity exceeding a certain acceptable limit. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not considered grammatically correct, signaling a need for careful consideration when employing it.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "roughly too much" appears in a variety of sources, it's generally considered grammatically awkward. According to Ludwig AI, it's not considered a correct grammatical construct. It attempts to convey an approximate excess, but clearer alternatives like "approximately excessive" are preferable. Its use spans news, scientific articles, and informal wikis, but higher formality contexts would benefit from more precise wording. When in doubt, opt for clarity to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately excessive

Replaces "roughly too much" with a more direct and grammatically sound construction, focusing on the approximate nature of the excess.

more or less excessive

Uses "more or less" to indicate approximation, providing a clearer alternative to "roughly" in this context.

somewhat excessive

Emphasizes a moderate degree of excess without implying a precise quantity.

fairly excessive

Indicates that the amount is quite a bit over what is expected or needed, providing a clearer alternative to "roughly" in this context.

excessive to some degree

Highlights the presence of excess while acknowledging a degree of uncertainty.

inordinately large

Focuses on the unusually large quantity, suggesting an imbalance or disproportion.

moderately excessive

Implies a quantifiable level of excess while keeping in mind that this amount is only "moderate".

a bit too much

Uses "a bit" to soften the statement.

a little excessive

Similar to 'somewhat excessive,' but more casually expresses the idea of something being beyond the expected.

somewhat over the top

Replaces the formal "excessive" with the informal "over the top,", resulting in casual wording.

FAQs

What does "roughly too much" mean?

The phrase "roughly too much" is an awkward way of saying that an amount is approximately excessive. It's better to use clearer alternatives like "approximately excessive".

Is it grammatically correct to say "roughly too much"?

While understandable, "roughly too much" is not considered grammatically ideal. More precise phrasing is recommended for formal writing. Consider using something like "somewhat excessive" instead.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "roughly too much"?

Alternatives include "approximately excessive", "somewhat excessive", or "fairly excessive". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "roughly too much"?

While the phrase appears in some contexts, it's advisable to use it sparingly. In most cases, a more direct and less ambiguous phrasing will improve clarity.