What is roughly? Pronunciation and usage in English

Let's break down how to use the word "roughly" in English. It's a multifaceted word with a few different shades of meaning. Here's a breakdown of its uses and how to incorporate it into your speech and writing:

1. Approximately / Roughly (Most Common)

• Meaning: This is the most frequent use of "roughly." It indicates an approximate or rounded-off number or quantity. It means “about” or “around.”
• Examples:
  • “I spent roughly $50 on groceries this week.” (Meaning: Around $50)
  • “The meeting will start roughly at 2 pm.” (Meaning: Around 2 pm)
  • “He’s roughly six feet tall.” (Meaning: About six feet tall)
  • “The book is roughly 300 pages long.” (Meaning: Approximately 300 pages)

2. Roughly (As in, “Roughly” – Roughly Treated/Dealt With)

• Meaning: This describes how someone is treated or handled – in a harsh, uncouth, or inconsiderate way. It implies rudeness, neglect, or lack of refinement.
• Examples:
  • “He was roughly treated by his coworkers.” (Meaning: He was treated badly, possibly unkindly or with disrespect.)
  • “The children were roughly handled by the excited crowd.” (Meaning: The children were handled in a clumsy, ungentle way.)
  • "I received a roughly written letter." (Meaning: The letter was poorly written, lacking neatness or formality)

3. Roughly (As in, “Roughly Shaped” or Textured)

• Meaning: This describes something's surface or appearance – being uneven, unpolished, or roughly shaped.
• Examples:
  • “The stone had a roughly hewn surface.” (Meaning: It was uneven and not perfectly shaped.)
  • “Roughly cut diamonds” (Meaning: Diamonds that have not been polished to a smooth finish.)
  • “The tree had roughly bark-covered branches.” (Meaning: The branches were not smooth, but had a rough texture)

Key Considerations & Tips

• Context is Crucial: The meaning of "roughly" hinges entirely on the context. Pay attention to the sentence and the surrounding words to understand which meaning is intended.

• Alternatives: Depending on the meaning you want to convey, consider these alternatives:

  • Approximately: For numerical approximations.
  • Around: Similar to "approximately."
  • About: A general way to express an estimate.
  • More or less: (informal)
  • In the neighborhood of: (slightly more formal)
  • Uneven/Rough/Coarse: (for describing texture)
  • Unrefined/Inconsiderate/Abrupt: (for describing treatment)

• Formality: “Roughly” is generally considered relatively informal. In very formal writing, you might prefer “approximately.”

Let’s practice! Can you rewrite these sentences using "roughly" (or a suitable alternative) in a way that conveys the correct meaning?

1. “I think the movie was about two hours long.”
2. “The volunteer treated the animals with great care.”
3. “The wood has a rough surface.”

Would you like me to:

• Give you more examples?
• Help you practice using "roughly" in different sentences?
• Explain how “roughly” differs from similar words like “around” and “about”?