a fairly accurate

USAGE SUMMARY

"a fairly accurate" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is not exactly precise but is close to the truth. For example, "The speedometer on my car reads a fairly accurate 65 miles per hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is a fairly accurate portrait.

The Economist

It's a fairly accurate description of modern journalism.

Independent

It holds up a fairly accurate, if somewhat distorting mirror to their existence.

The New York Times

Some of which doubles up as a fairly accurate description of the way he plays.

The Guardian - Sport

Here's a video of Japp Stam doing a fairly accurate impression of it.

The Guardian - Sport

That turns out to be a fairly accurate summation, and not too misleading.

The New Yorker

Asian savoury rice porridge would be a fairly accurate description, here.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"What's happening at I.D.G. is a fairly accurate map for every other publishing organization.

The New York Times

This revolutionised the medium because it gave a fairly accurate representation of the player's style.

The Guardian - Music

Only one of our interviewees is female, a fairly accurate representation of the demographics of homelessness.

The Guardian

These three features, says Tan, provide a fairly accurate way to identify certain types of gesture.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fairly accurate" when you want to convey that something is close to being completely accurate, but may have minor discrepancies. This softens the assertion and makes it less absolute.

Common error

Avoid using "a fairly accurate" when describing something that requires absolute precision. In contexts like scientific measurements or legal documents, strive for exactness and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fairly accurate" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun. It describes the degree to which something is correct or precise, implying a level of accuracy that is substantial but not absolute. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fairly accurate" is a common and grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to describe something that is mostly correct or precise, but not completely so. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is deemed appropriate for use across varied sources. It's frequently found in news and media and scientific contexts. When writing, be mindful of the situations where absolute precision is needed and consider alternatives such as "reasonably precise" or "generally correct" to better suit your intended level of precision. While “a fairly accurate” is versatile, always assess if a more exact description is necessary, particularly in technical or legal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reasonably precise

Indicates a degree of accuracy that is within acceptable limits, suggesting a slightly lower degree of exactness than "a fairly accurate".

a generally correct

Suggests that something is mostly right but may have some minor inaccuracies.

a largely truthful

Emphasizes the truthfulness aspect more than the precision, implying that the statement is mainly true.

a mostly exact

Implies a high degree of accuracy with only minor deviations.

a substantially accurate

Highlights the significant degree of accuracy, suggesting that the inaccuracies are not substantial.

an approximately correct

Focuses on the approximation aspect, indicating a level of accuracy that is close but not necessarily exact.

a near-perfect

Suggests that something is almost without error.

a pretty close

Indicates an informal degree of accuracy that is close but not precise.

a relatively spot-on

Implies that something is quite accurate, especially in comparison to other possibilities.

a respectably accurate

Denotes an acceptable and commendable level of accuracy.

FAQs

How can I use "a fairly accurate" in a sentence?

You can use "a fairly accurate" to describe something that is close to the truth or precise, but not completely so. For instance, "The weather forecast provided "a fairly accurate" prediction for the week".

What are some alternatives to "a fairly accurate"?

Alternatives to "a fairly accurate" include phrases like "reasonably precise", "generally correct", or "largely truthful". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "fairly accurate" or "very accurate"?

"Fairly accurate" suggests a moderate degree of accuracy, while "very accurate" implies a high degree. Use "fairly accurate" when there may be some minor errors or approximations, and "very accurate" when something is almost completely exact.

What does "a fairly accurate" forecast mean?

A "fairly accurate" forecast means that the prediction is mostly correct but might not be entirely precise. It's a way of saying the forecast is reliable but not infallible.