somewhat roughly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat roughly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not precise or exact, indicating a degree of approximation or vagueness. Example: "The measurements were somewhat roughly taken, leading to inaccuracies in the final report."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He was repeating, "Thank you, thank you," and then he had led her somewhat roughly — perhaps it was just his impatience — to the corner of the room, onto the mat, and was pushing at her clothes and seeming to sob with urgency.

The New Yorker

Balaguer defines plenitudinous platonism (somewhat roughly) as the view that there exist mathematical objects of all possible kinds, or the view that all the mathematical objects that possibly could exist actually do exist.

SEP

For example, on their view, the plenitude principle for abstract individuals asserts (again, somewhat roughly) that every possible description of an object characterizes an abstract object that encodes — and, thus, in an important sense, has — the properties expressed in the description.

SEP

For example, by noting that, even if it is true that only states have intrinsic value, it may yet be that not all states have intrinsic value, Zimmerman suggests (to put matters somewhat roughly) that basic intrinsic value is the intrinsic value had by states none of whose proper parts have intrinsic value (Zimmerman 2001, ch. 5).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Somewhat amazingly, roughly two weeks before the trade deadline, Hamels is still a Philadelphia Philly, which really is kind of amazing.

The Guardian - Sport

Some market researchers projected a flood of defections from carriers, but the effect has been somewhat muted, with roughly a million people switching, analysts said.

The New York Times

The three most famous and largest of these empires were the Minaean (Maʿīn), the Sabaean (Sabaʾ, the biblical Sheba), and the Ḥimyarite (Ḥimyar, called Homeritae by the Romans), all of which were known throughout the ancient Mediterranean world; their periods of ascendancy overlap somewhat, extending from roughly 1200 bce to 525 ce.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Initially, it was somewhat successful with roughly 400 more students joining in 1971.

TechCrunch

Typical reductions are somewhat less extreme, roughly −20% in domesticated mink and −16% for horses (Kruska 2005).

Genetics

As specified in the SAP, the MID considered changes in scores of TRIM-Diabetes domains between responses of roughly "Slightly" and "Somewhat" as the minimally important interval.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

As fans of "Something Sort of Grand-ish" from "Finian's Rainbow" could tell you, "ish," when used as a suffix, is meant to express everything from "roughly" and "somewhat" to "kind of" and "close to".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat roughly" when you want to indicate an estimation or approximation that is not precise, but still within a reasonable range. For instance, "The cost was "somewhat roughly" estimated at $1000, but it could vary."

Common error

Avoid excessive use of qualifiers like "somewhat" and "roughly" in close proximity. Overusing these terms can make your writing sound hesitant and less confident. Choose the most appropriate qualifier to convey your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat roughly" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier, adding a degree of imprecision to a statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is used to express approximation or a lack of exactness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "somewhat roughly" is an adverbial phrase used to indicate an approximation or a lack of precision. Ludwig AI validates that this expression is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not overly common, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in science, news media, and encyclopedias. Be mindful of overusing qualifiers and consider alternatives like "approximately" or "in general terms" depending on the specific nuance you aim to convey. The phrase carries a neutral tone, making it appropriate for both formal and informal communications where exactness isn't essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately

This alternative is a single word that conveys a similar meaning of estimation.

more or less

This alternative conveys a similar sense of approximation, but it is more conversational.

in general terms

This alternative provides a broader sense of approximation, focusing on the general idea rather than specifics.

fairly accurately

This alternative suggests a reasonable level of accuracy with some imprecision.

relatively close

This alternative suggests that something is near to the expected value with a mild nuance.

sort of accurately

This is a more casual alternative, similar in intent but less formal.

kind of precisely

This alternative focuses on a lower grade in precision

not exactly

This alternative emphasizes the lack of exactness.

to a degree

This alternative is less specific about the approximation.

in the ballpark

This alternative is an idiom which specifies that something is 'in the vicinity' of correctness.

FAQs

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

You can use "somewhat roughly" to indicate an approximation or estimate. For example, "The data was "somewhat roughly" calculated due to incomplete information."

What is a more formal alternative to "somewhat roughly"?

A more formal alternative could be "approximately" or "in general terms", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use both "somewhat" and "roughly" together?

While not strictly incorrect, using both "somewhat" and "roughly" can be seen as slightly redundant. Consider if one word sufficiently conveys your intended level of approximation or if another alternative would provide more clarity.

What's the difference between "somewhat roughly" and "fairly accurately"?

"Somewhat roughly" implies a greater degree of imprecision than "fairly accurately". The latter suggests a reasonable level of correctness, while the former indicates a more loose estimation.