[AEE] AEE – Learn Roughly Five New Ways to Stay Broad in English

1. roughly

Meaning: approximately, but in a natural and common way

Why it’s useful:
This is one of the best words for everyday work English. It sounds professional without sounding overly formal.

Examples:

  • We’ll need roughly two more weeks to finish the report.
  • There were roughly 50 people at the event.
  • I spend roughly an hour commuting each day.

When it works well:
Use it when you want to sound informed, but not overly exact.

2. around / about

Meaning: approximately

Why it’s useful:
These are the most natural daily choices. They are easy, flexible, and common in both personal and professional conversations.

Examples:

  • I’ll be there around 6 p.m.
  • The meeting should end at about 4.
  • About 20 clients have responded so far.

Important note:
You usually say:

  • around 4
  • at about 4

Not:

  • “ends about 4”

3. nearly

Meaning: almost, but not completely

Why it’s useful:
This is perfect when something came very close to a number or result. It sounds polished and precise in a subtle way.

Examples:

  • We’ve nearly finished the project.
  • She nearly missed her flight.
  • The company nearly doubled its sales this year.

Nuance:
Use nearly when something is close to a limit, goal, or final point.

4. That sounds about right

Meaning: that seems correct or reasonable

Why it’s useful:
This is a very natural reaction phrase. It is great in conversations when you want to agree softly without sounding too absolute.

Examples:

  • “I think there will be around 200 guests.”
    “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
  • “The repair should cost about $150.”
    “That sounds about right.”
  • “We’ll probably need three more days.”
    “That sounds about right.”

Why it’s great socially:
It helps you agree in a calm, non-pushy way.

5. wiggle room

Meaning: flexibility or space to adjust

Why it’s useful:
This is the standout idiom from the episode. It is extremely practical in business and real life, especially in delicate situations involving time, money, expectations, or decisions.

Examples:

  • We should leave some wiggle room in the budget.
  • I can meet Friday, but I may need a little wiggle room on the time.
  • Let’s not promise an exact date yet. We need some wiggle room.

Why it matters:
This expression is excellent when you want to avoid sounding trapped or overcommitted.

Expressions from the episode that are useful, but less essential

  • approximately: useful and professional, but more formal than “roughly” or “about”
  • circa: interesting and sophisticated, but not very common in daily conversation

Natural practice version of the role play

Here is a slightly smoother version you can actually practice aloud:

A: Do you know how many people are expected?
B: I heard there will be nearly a thousand attendees.
A: Wow. Then how many welcome bags should we prepare?
B: Roughly 400, I’d say.
A: That sounds about right. I also heard the event wraps up around four each day.
B: In that case, we could organize extra activities for potential clients.
A: Good idea. There are about 30 companies I want to connect with.
B: Do you know how long they’ve been running this conference?
A: I’m not sure, but I think it started somewhere around 2000.
B: That sounds about right too.

Paragraph using all five key expressions

We should leave some wiggle room in the schedule because the event will probably end around 4 p.m., and there will be roughly 400 guests joining the evening session. We’ve nearly finalized the guest list, so I think our current estimate sounds about right. If anything changes, we can still adjust without promising an exact number too early.

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