roughly what fraction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly what fraction" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking for an approximate numerical value or proportion of something in a casual or informal context. Example: "Can you tell me roughly what fraction of the budget is allocated to marketing?"

✓ Grammatically correct

Biochemistry

The Guardian

The New York Times - Science

The Washington Post

Harvard University

Forbes

Vice

Plosone

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The regime where only a fraction of cells show calcium influx in response to the addition of oligomers can be used to roughly estimate what fraction of all oligomers can cause this influx, while at higher oligomer concentrations, all of the cells show calcium influx, and the effect saturates.

Biochemistry

But what fraction?

The Guardian

What fraction came from the glacial ridge?

The New York Times - Science

What fraction of Americans can actually afford that?

The Washington Post

What fraction of all contacted individuals began the study?

Harvard University

What Fraction of Bankruptcies are "Medical"?

Forbes

Exactly what fraction this is remains a mystery.

Vice

What fraction of covariation is BLD?

Plosone

Given the result from this study that roughly 30% of the rat genome was significantly expressed during all time points of marrow ablation-induced intramembranous bone regeneration, it is of interest to discuss what fraction of the genome is involved in other forms of wound and tissue repair.

Plosone

What fraction of these are PIWI+?

eLife

What fraction had IIE? σF activity?

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly what fraction", ensure the context implies an approximation is acceptable. If precision is needed, rephrase to ask for exact figures.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly what fraction" when the situation requires a precise figure. This phrase signals that an approximate answer is sufficient, so it's inappropriate when accuracy is critical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly what fraction" functions as an interrogative phrase used to inquire about an estimated portion or percentage of something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "roughly what fraction" is used to inquire about an approximate portion or percentage, indicating that a precise figure is not required. Ludwig AI confirms that it's appropriate for general use. While grammatically sound and appearing in various sources like news media, science, and academic contexts, it leans towards a neutral to informal tone. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "approximately what proportion". When precision is paramount, avoid using "roughly what fraction" altogether and request specific values instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately what proportion

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately" and "fraction" with "proportion", maintaining a formal tone and meaning.

about what percentage

Uses "about" for approximation and "percentage" to specify the part out of 100.

around what ratio

Replaces "fraction" with "ratio", indicating a relationship between two quantities.

estimated what part

Emphasizes the estimation aspect and uses "part" as a more general term.

in the vicinity of what amount

Expresses approximation using "in the vicinity of" with focus on a quantity.

something like what percentage

Adds a casual tone using "something like" while still asking for a percentage.

a rough estimate of what fraction

Rephrases to highlight the inexact nature of the answer sought.

a ballpark figure for what proportion

Uses "ballpark figure" to indicate a very approximate answer about a proportion.

a guesstimate of what fraction

Combines "guess" and "estimate" to emphasize the approximate nature.

in the neighborhood of what proportion

Uses "in the neighborhood of" to convey an approximate amount.

FAQs

How can I use "roughly what fraction" in a sentence?

You can use "roughly what fraction" when you need to estimate a portion of a whole. For example, "Roughly what fraction of the budget is allocated to marketing this quarter?"

What's a more formal alternative to "roughly what fraction"?

A more formal alternative is "approximately what proportion". This phrase maintains a professional tone while still seeking an approximate value.

Is it appropriate to use "roughly what fraction" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "roughly what fraction" might be too informal for some academic contexts. Consider using alternatives like "approximately what percentage" for a more suitable tone.

When should I avoid using "roughly what fraction"?

Avoid using "roughly what fraction" when precision is required. If you need an exact value, ask for specific numbers or percentages instead.