What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
coarsely
Example
The wood was coarsely sanded, leaving a rough surface. [coarsely: adverb]
Example
He coarsely chopped the vegetables for the soup. [coarsely: adverb]
roughly
Example
There were roughly 50 people at the party. [roughly: adverb]
Example
He explained the concept roughly, without going into too much detail. [roughly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Roughly is more commonly used than coarsely in everyday language. Roughly is versatile and can be applied to various contexts, while coarsely is less common and more specific to describing texture or quality.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between coarsely and roughly?
Both coarsely and roughly are relatively informal words. However, coarsely may carry a slightly more negative or unrefined connotation compared to roughly, which is more neutral in tone.
