a fair sampling of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fair sampling of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a representative selection or portion of a larger group or dataset. Example: "The survey provided a fair sampling of opinions from various demographics within the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

History, French literature and a fair sampling of nighttime soap operas have proven otherwise, but so be it.

The New York Times - Style

Included here is a fair sampling of the multisyllabic: aprosexia (an abnormal inability to pay attention), dangleation (dallying with girls; flirtation), mellisonant (sweet-sounding; pleasing to the ear).

The New York Times

The selection of the best works made by the auctioneers for the Tuesday session gave a fair sampling of Mr. Weiller's aesthetic preferences.

The New York Times

"The Hebraic Section of the Library of Congress houses over 225 manuscripts; most of them in Hebrew but with a fair sampling of manuscripts also written in cognate languages such as Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Persian, and Yiddish.

Stanford University

The manuscript known as the Percy Folio, a 17th-century antiquarian collection of such material, may be a fair sampling of the repertoire of the late medieval itinerant entertainer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This concert, with proceeds going toward his medical costs, features a fair sampling of the artists in his circle, including the keyboardists John Medeski, Marco Benevento and Vijay Iyer; the guitarists John Scofield and Eric Krasno; the producers DJ Logic, DJ Olive and Bill Laswell; and the bands Antibalas and Sex Mob.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The answers were a fair sample of Arnold off the cuff.

The New Yorker

That's a fair sample of the deductive logic on display in Ian Smith's first novel.

The New York Times - Books

What is transferred across the placenta in many species is a fair sample of the mother's antibodies.

Britannica

Remarkably, 80% of a group carefully selected by the Kirkwood team – a fair sample of the UK population of this age – need little care.

The Guardian

That sentence is a fair sample of Asaro's prose, which aspires to poetry but usually settles for a kind of muted bombast.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fair sampling of", ensure that the context clearly indicates what larger group or dataset the sample is drawn from. This provides clarity and strengthens the validity of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a fair sampling of" if you haven't taken steps to ensure the sample is truly representative. Overstating the representativeness can weaken your argument or analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fair sampling of" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that the noun represents a subset chosen to be representative and unbiased. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a fair sampling of" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English used to describe a representative selection from a larger whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's generally considered correct and suitable for formal, academic, journalistic, and professional contexts. While it appears most frequently in news and media, its core function is to convey representativeness and impartiality, which is important when drawing conclusions from the sample. Ensuring the sample is truly representative is crucial to avoid misinterpretations or weakened arguments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a representative selection of

Emphasizes the selection being typical and indicative of the whole.

a reasonable cross-section of

Highlights the diversity and variety within the sample.

a balanced assortment of

Stresses the even distribution and variety within the sample.

a proportionate representation of

Focuses on maintaining the same ratios as the original population.

a good illustration of

Highlights the illustrative nature of the selection, showing key aspects of the whole.

an adequate portrayal of

Suggests the selection gives a sufficient depiction of the subject.

a sufficient quantity of

Focuses on the amount being enough to draw conclusions.

a representative subset of

Highlights that the selection is smaller but reflective of the larger group.

a diverse array of

Emphasizes the wide range of elements included.

a comprehensive overview of

Suggests that the sample provides a broad and complete look at the topic.

FAQs

How can I use "a fair sampling of" in a sentence?

Use "a fair sampling of" to indicate that the items or data you are discussing are representative of a larger group. For example, "The study included "a fair sampling of" opinions from different age groups."

What is a good alternative to "a fair sampling of"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "a fair sampling of" could include "a representative selection of", "a reasonable cross-section of", or "a balanced assortment of".

Does "a fair sampling of" guarantee complete accuracy?

No, "a fair sampling of" implies that the sample is reasonably representative, but it doesn't guarantee perfect accuracy or complete representation of all aspects of the larger group. There may still be some degree of sampling error.

What makes a sampling "fair"?

A "fair" sampling aims to avoid bias and accurately reflect the characteristics of the overall population or group. This is often achieved through random selection or stratified "sampling" techniques.