Cool MateRoughly vs That's about that much
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Roughly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
That's about that much
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: RoughlyMost common: Roughly
| Roughly | That's about that much | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrʌfli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrʌfli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts əˈbaʊt ðæt mʌtʃ//🇺🇸 //ðæts əˈbaʊt ðæt mʌtʃ// |
| Meaning | Approximately, not exactly | It refers to a specific amount or level. |
| Example | Sales are up by roughly 10 per cent. | I need that much money to buy the new phone. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | roughly speaking, roughly estimated, roughly the same, roughly translates | that much money, that much time, that much effort |
| Antonyms | exactly, precisely | - |
| Common mistakes | Used in place of 'exactly' or 'precisely'., Incorrectly placed at the end of the sentence., Confused with 'rough' as an adjective. | Confused with 'That's about that many' when talking about countable nouns., Used in overly formal contexts where a simpler expression would suffice. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use this phrase to indicate a particular quantity or extent, usually in casual conversation. It may not be suitable for formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Roughly vs That's about that much
What's the difference between Roughly and That's about that much?
Roughly: Approximately, not exactly That's about that much: It refers to a specific amount or level.
Which is more formal: Roughly and That's about that much?
Roughly is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Roughly and That's about that much?
Roughly is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Roughly: Sales are up by roughly 10 per cent. That's about that much: I need that much money to buy the new phone.
Can I use Roughly and That's about that much interchangeably?
Not always. Roughly and That's about that much 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.