were done roughly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were done roughly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or tasks that were completed in a careless or imprecise manner. Example: "The calculations were done roughly, leading to several errors in the final report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A few of the detentions were done roughly — one man was thrown on the ground by the police and officers kneeled on his back.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's that thousands of prospective Americans were doing roughly the same thing at the same time.

The New Yorker

Humphrey emphasized that winners must of course declare their bounty on their tax return; this is done roughly as often as anyone takes the Raiders on the road.

The New York Times - Sports

Lawyers for the 23 or so men who are being subjected to this treatment report that it is deliberately being done roughly, with unsterilised tubes that are too large: those claims are denied.

The Economist

In France (depending on how the calculations are done) roughly ten per cent of the population are of Arab or sub-Saharan African origin.

Huffington Post

For the average skier, this should be done roughly once every seven ski days, or whenever it feels like turning has become more difficult.

WikiHow

I've been doing roughly one painting a year.

The Guardian - Books

It is doing roughly what you'd expect.

The Guardian - Business

Did Lloyd Blankfein know that Goldman was doing roughly the same thing?

The New Yorker

Her aides say she is doing roughly twice as many campaign appearances as she did in 1994.

The New York Times

The women will be doing roughly the same thing behind some sort of divider, or inside a home that is within sight and hearing of the men.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were done roughly", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific actions that were performed carelessly or imprecisely. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "were done roughly" without specifying which actions or processes are being criticized. Without specific context, the phrase can come across as vague and unsubstantiated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were done roughly" functions as a passive construction modified by an adverb. It indicates that an action was performed in a careless or imprecise manner. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were done roughly" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to describe actions performed carelessly or imprecisely. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for expressing criticism or dissatisfaction with the quality of work. Although its frequency is relatively rare, with the main usage context in news and media sources, understanding its meaning and appropriate usage can enhance clarity in your writing. Remember to provide specific context to avoid vagueness, and consider alternatives such as "were performed carelessly" or "were executed imprecisely" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were performed carelessly

Replaces 'done roughly' with 'performed carelessly', focusing on the lack of care in the execution.

were executed imprecisely

Substitutes 'done roughly' with 'executed imprecisely', highlighting the lack of precision in the execution.

were handled sloppily

Replaces 'done roughly' with 'handled sloppily', emphasizing the poor handling of the task.

were completed hastily

Substitutes 'done roughly' with 'completed hastily', stressing the speed and lack of attention to detail.

were treated negligently

Replaces 'done roughly' with 'treated negligently', focusing on the lack of proper care and attention.

were poorly executed

A more direct substitution for 'done roughly', maintaining a similar tone and meaning.

were superficially addressed

Highlights that the tasks were addressed without depth or thoroughness.

were approached without precision

Focuses on the lack of precision in the approach to the tasks.

were dealt with unskillfully

Emphasizes the lack of skill in how the tasks were managed.

were shoddily undertaken

Uses 'shoddily undertaken' to convey a sense of poor quality and execution.

FAQs

What does "were done roughly" mean?

The phrase "were done roughly" means that certain tasks or actions were completed in a careless, imprecise, or rushed manner, lacking attention to detail or quality.

How can I use "were done roughly" in a sentence?

You can use "were done roughly" to describe situations where tasks were not performed with care or precision. For example, "The calculations "were done roughly", leading to several errors."

What are some alternatives to "were done roughly"?

Alternatives include phrases like "were performed carelessly", "were executed imprecisely", or "were handled sloppily", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "were done roughly"?

Yes, "were done roughly" is grammatically correct. It uses the passive voice correctly with the past participle "done" and modifies it with the adverb "roughly".