roughly when

USAGE SUMMARY

"roughly when" can be used in written English and it is often used to ask for an approximate time.
For example: "Can you tell me roughly when the store closes?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mutation carriers always develop Alzheimer's, and researchers know roughly when.

The New York Times

They thus knew roughly when to scrutinize the Sun.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This is roughly when a major shift occurs.

The Guardian

This seems to be roughly when the large-son meme went more or less mainstream.

The New Yorker

Around 10 15 p.m., roughly when the plane crashed, about 200 customers were without power.

The New York Times

She was left by her own partner, Anthony Arlidge QC, roughly when I left Vicky Pryce.

The Guardian - Opinion

He prefers to give Wall Street what it wants and, as a rule, to deliver roughly when it expects.

The Economist

None of the rockets have wounded an American soldier since July 1, roughly when the current unit began to arrive in the province.

The New York Times

Nadal, the vice president of the ATP World Tour's player council, took the court around 12 20 p.m., or roughly when three men's fourth-round matches started.

The New York Times - Sports

Course Description: An investigation of these two properties of beliefs, which have played a large role in much recent epistemology: sensitivity (which a true belief has, roughly, when it would not have been held if it had been false) and safety (which a true belief has, roughly, when it could not easily have happened that it was held though it was false).

Yale University

You talk in your book about the difficulty in naming this stage of life, which happens roughly when people hit the age of 60.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "roughly when" with specific dates or times to provide more context. For example, "The project should be completed roughly when the fiscal year ends."

Common error

While "roughly when" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal documents. Opt for more precise alternatives like "approximately at" or "around" to maintain a professional tone. Overusing can sound informal or imprecise, diminishing the credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly when" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates that the timing of an event or action is being specified in an approximate or inexact manner. Ludwig shows numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly when" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate an approximate time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and academic writing. While it's acceptable in most situations, be mindful of the level of formality required; in highly formal contexts, consider more precise alternatives. By following best practices and avoiding overuse, you can effectively use "roughly when" to convey estimated timeframes in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Approximately when

Replaces "roughly" with a synonym, maintaining the meaning of approximation.

About when

A shorter, more informal way to ask for an approximate time.

Around when

Similar to "about when", indicating an estimated time.

In the vicinity of when

More formal and precise, but still indicating an approximation.

Close to when

Suggests a time that is not exact, but near to a specific point.

In the neighborhood of when

An informal way to indicate an approximate time, similar to "around when".

More or less when

Emphasizes the inexact nature of the time being referred to.

Ballpark when

A colloquial term for estimating a time.

Give or take, when

Indicates a time with a margin of error.

In the general timeframe of when

A longer, more descriptive way of indicating an approximate period.

FAQs

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

You can use "roughly when" to ask for or indicate an approximate time. For example, "Roughly when do you expect to finish the report?" or "The package should arrive roughly when the delivery window closes."

What can I say instead of "roughly when"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately when", "about when", or "around when" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "roughly when" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "roughly when" might be considered informal in some formal contexts. Consider using more precise alternatives like "approximately at" or specifying a range of time.

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

"Roughly when" indicates an estimated or approximate time, while "exactly when" seeks a precise and specific time. For example, you'd ask "Roughly when will dinner be ready?" if you're flexible, but "Exactly when does the train depart?" if you need to know the minute.