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In my own native tongue (Hebrew) when I have some mathematical expression that is complicated and I try to upper bound it with a simpler expression but then I find out that the gap between the two is so big that it causes other problems I would say that my estimate of it was rough, coarse, crude or something like that (The exact words in Hebrew, if anyone wonders or cares would've been "גס מדי" pronounced "G-ass mee-dai", which, when translated literally would mean "Too rough", "Too rude" or "Too vulgar").

What would be a good word or expression to convey that miscalculation in English? The only things I came up with are "Too rough an estimate", "Too crude of an estimate" or "An unrefined estimate" and for the most part those would do just fine but I was wondering if there is anything else that would sound more natural in English (American or British) especially in an academic setting (I'm an electrical engineering grad student).

Thanks!

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  • What do you mean, that you used the wrong methodology to make the estimate, or didn't put enough time into the estimate, or made a mistake, or it was wrong for some other reason? ("Too crude", "too naive", or "too hasty" might be reasons.)
    – Stuart F
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 15:56
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    Do you mean specifically that the estimate was too high, or just that it was incorrect?
    – alphabet
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 15:57
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    Does this answer your question? What is a more professional term for the 'back-of-the-envelope' calculation? 'First approximation' / 'zeroth approximation' / 'rough estimate'. // The title question asks for a single word, while the tags ask for a phrase. Please clarify.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 16:41
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    Your original estimate overshot the mark (it went too far.)
    – Yosef Baskin
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 18:59
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    @YosefBaskin That works, I think. Thanks.
    – Uri Greenberg
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 19:10

4 Answers 4

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You could say that your original bound was too loose.

When you get a bound that works, you can say that it is tight enough.

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  • I'm still reluctant to use "loose" but I guess this is the best I have for now, thanks.
    – Uri Greenberg
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 21:51
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You may say that the amount was overstated (or exaggerated).

Overstate : If you say that someone is overstating something, you mean they are describing it in a way that makes it seem more important or serious than it really is.
Source : Collins

Example: In this report, import prices are overstated and overall inflation is understated.

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You used the word "unrefined." Looking at the basis for the estimate, perhaps you could say that it was more a guesstimate than estimate.

Guesstimate (n.)

An estimate usually made without adequate information M-W

An estimate which is based on both guesswork and reasoning. [OED]

An approximate calculation of the size or amount of something when you do not know all the facts Cambridge

Intuitively, I would say that a guesstimate is rougher than a very rough estimate. Guesstimate is sometimes labeled as informal and may not be suitable for all academic writing.

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  • There wasn't much of a guess in it - it was mathematically sound but had no use because it wasn't tight enough.
    – Uri Greenberg
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 20:03
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You could say your original method was was a

rule of thumb
A rough measure or method, without precise mathematical or scientific basis.

From Farlex.

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  • However, my upper bound had a mathematical basis and was correct. It was just too high to be of any use. Like saying that there are less than 1000 days in a year - true but useless.
    – Uri Greenberg
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 19:59
  • The extract says: without a precise mathematical basis.
    – Weather Vane
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 20:07
  • The basis was precise, the bound wasn't tight so I don't think this really fits.
    – Uri Greenberg
    Commented Jun 15, 2023 at 20:18

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