Cool MateAbout __ of those suckers vs Roughly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
About __ of those suckers
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Roughly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most formal: Roughly
| About __ of those suckers | Roughly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈbaʊt əv ðəʊz ˈsʌkəz//🇺🇸 //əˈbaʊt əv ðoʊz ˈsʌkərz// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrʌfli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrʌfli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Used to describe a quantity or amount of something surprising or impressive. | Approximately, not exactly |
| Example | We caught about 10 of those suckers in our fishing trip! | Sales are up by roughly 10 per cent. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | about a dozen, about a hundred, about five, about ten, about twenty | roughly speaking, roughly estimated, roughly the same, roughly translates |
| Antonyms | - | exactly, precisely |
| Common mistakes | Using a formal tone when the phrase is informal., Confusing 'about' with 'around' in some contexts. | Used in place of 'exactly' or 'precisely'., Incorrectly placed at the end of the sentence., Confused with 'rough' as an adjective. |
| Usage notes | This phrase is informal and often used in casual conversation. It has a playful connotation and can be slightly sarcastic. Avoid in formal writing or settings. | Use 'roughly' when you want to give an estimate or approximation. It’s neutral and suitable for most contexts, but avoid in very formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: About __ of those suckers vs Roughly
What's the difference between About __ of those suckers and Roughly?
About __ of those suckers: Used to describe a quantity or amount of something surprising or impressive. Roughly: Approximately, not exactly
Which is more formal: About __ of those suckers and Roughly?
Roughly is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
About __ of those suckers: We caught about 10 of those suckers in our fishing trip! Roughly: Sales are up by roughly 10 per cent.
Can I use About __ of those suckers and Roughly interchangeably?
Not always. About __ of those suckers and Roughly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.