roughly true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly true" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that something is approximately accurate or generally correct, but not exact. Example: "While the statistics may not be precise, they are roughly true and provide a good overview of the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Using comparative studies of thousands of animal species, from insects to mammals, they have concluded that the most complex societies have arisen through eusociality — roughly, "true" social condition.

The New York Times

The same is roughly true for ticket prices: first class is generally more than twice the price of business; business class is usually four times the price of coach.

The New York Times

While Mr. Obama apparently was speaking only about Part B, analysts say that it is roughly true for all of Medicare that beneficiaries on average pay about $1 for every $3 in benefits.

The New York Times

If fighting now looks like making up now looks like booking travel, as it does when people conduct their affairs online, how do film directors make human action both dramatic to viewers and roughly true to life?

The New York Times - Magazine

According to archival evidence recently available, Mr. Clinton's wisecrack is roughly true: Mr. Bush, in taking credit for the ending of the Cold War, is like "the rooster who took credit for the dawn".

The New Yorker

It is even roughly true for agrarian societies, where a stored surplus was required in order to provide food for the steady growth in the numbers of people (which explains why the poor perished if production was hit).

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Roughly chop the capers.

WikiHow

This roughly holds true for the inter-database search, too.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Third, the entry assumes that moral knowledge entails (roughly) justified true moral belief.

SEP

BonJour outlines four traditional assumptions about knowledge, understood as roughly justified true belief, which he "broadly" endorses (BonJour 2010: 58 9).

SEP

Thus, when we point the 12 00 marking at the sun, the 3 00 will point roughly towards true north.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "roughly true" to acknowledge potential inaccuracies while still conveying a general sense of correctness. It adds nuance when precision isn't essential.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly true" when precise data is available or when accuracy is critical to the argument. In those situations, provide exact figures or acknowledge the margin of error explicitly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly true" functions as an adjectival modifier, qualifying a statement or fact. It indicates that the statement holds in general terms, though it may not be precisely accurate. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly true" is a useful phrase for indicating that something is generally accurate but not entirely precise. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and examples show its use in various contexts, including News & Media and Scientific publications. When writing, use "roughly true" to add nuance and acknowledge potential limitations. Consider alternatives like "approximately correct" or "generally accurate" depending on the desired level of precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly accurate

Mirrors the original phrase, but substitutes 'accurate' for 'true'.

approximately correct

Emphasizes that something is close to being accurate but not exact.

generally accurate

Highlights that something is mainly correct, with possible minor inaccuracies.

more or less true

Indicates a statement is mostly true with slight deviations.

largely correct

Stresses that the main parts are right, but not necessarily all details.

substantially correct

Highlights that the main substance of something is true, even if details vary.

close to the truth

Indicates something is near the actual truth, without being fully exact.

pretty much true

Informal way of saying something is nearly entirely true.

in the ballpark

Suggests an estimation that is close to the actual value or situation.

near enough true

Indicates something is sufficiently close to the truth for a specific purpose.

FAQs

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

You can use "roughly true" to indicate that something is generally correct but not entirely precise. For example, "The estimated cost is "roughly true", but may vary slightly."

What phrases are similar to "roughly true"?

Alternatives to "roughly true" include "approximately correct", "generally accurate", or "more or less true", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "roughly true"?

It is appropriate to use "roughly true" when you want to convey that a statement is generally correct without being completely precise. It's suitable when approximations are acceptable or when exact figures are unavailable.

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

"Roughly true" suggests an approximation, while "exactly true" indicates complete precision. If you want to emphasize precision, use "exactly true"; otherwise, "roughly true" acknowledges potential variations.