a fairly close

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fairly close" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a relationship, similarity, or proximity that is relatively near or tight in comparison to something else. Example: "The two paintings are a fairly close representation of the original artwork, capturing its essence and style."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

A surface depiction of this model is shown in Fig. 4. It should be emphasized that this is a model based on the published ZFP36L2 TZF domain structure [ 32], but the two sequences are so closely related that it seems likely to be a fairly close approximation of the final TTP TZF domain structure in complex with its RNA target.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

That figure may have risen to 60,000, a fairly close second to Colombia.

The Economist

In an early draft, he had said "the question is probably a fairly close one".

The New York Times

In addition, he is believed to have a fairly close relationship with the team's ownership.

The New York Times

They take it to the A.S.P.C.A. on 92nd St., where its destiny is a fairly close eventuality.

The New Yorker

A lot of the better ones are from YouGov, which also shows a fairly close race nationally.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

The industry remains heavily concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, and its upper ranks form a fairly close-knit community.

The Guardian - Tech

Ours is a fairly close-knit community of a hundred and twenty souls, give or take a few, distributed among some fifty-two stone-and-timber houses that were erected nearly a century ago in what the industrialist B. P. Newhouse hoped would be a model of utopian living.

The New Yorker

Now a struggling musician, Deni dreams of writing a song that will unite his people, though they seem a fairly close-knit community already — it's the kind of place where everyone bids him a cheerful good morning as he hustles to the first of his many jobs, singing jingles on the radio.

The New York Times

For the most part, this is a fairly close-to-the-bone, distraction-free tour that isn't terribly concerned with finding new audiences outside the metal faithful; Megadeth is the embodiment of that position, with its roaring sound all up front and hardly any echo or fancy electronic enhancement.

The New York Times - Arts

The gene trio seems to be a fairly close-knit team, often working together to control other genes.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fairly close" to describe numerical data, specify the units or scale to provide context and enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a fairly close" in highly formal or academic writing where a more precise term might be expected. For instance, instead of saying "the results were a fairly close match", consider "the results closely aligned" or "the results were in strong agreement."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fairly close" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier that intensifies the adjective "close". It typically modifies nouns, expressing a moderate degree of proximity, similarity, or relationship, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

24%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fairly close" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a moderate degree of nearness, similarity, or approximation. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase sees frequent use in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. While versatile, it may be replaced with more precise language in highly formal settings. The phrase is found in authoritative sources like The New York Times and BBC, supporting its widespread acceptability and proper usage. Related phrases include "quite near" and "reasonably close", each with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite near

Emphasizes proximity or closeness.

reasonably near

Highlights the degree of closeness as being within acceptable limits.

relatively close

Stresses the comparative aspect of the closeness.

moderately close

Indicates a medium degree of closeness.

somewhat similar

Shifts the focus to similarity rather than physical proximity.

a good approximation

Focuses on the accuracy of an estimate or representation.

a near equivalent

Suggests a level of equivalence that is not exact but very similar.

in the vicinity

Implies a location that is not exactly at a point but in the general area.

roughly comparable

Highlights comparability, but with allowance for some differences.

virtually identical

Suggests an extremely high degree of similarity, almost to the point of being the same.

FAQs

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

You can use "a fairly close" to describe something that is near, similar, or approximate. For example, "The election results showed "a fairly close race" between the candidates."

What are some alternatives to "a fairly close"?

Alternatives include "quite near", "reasonably near", or "relatively close", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "fairly close" or "very close"?

The choice depends on the degree of closeness you want to convey. "Fairly close" indicates a moderate degree of proximity or similarity, while "very close" suggests a higher degree.

What does it mean when something is described as "a fairly close approximation"?

It means that something is a reasonable, but not perfect, estimate or representation of something else. It's near enough to be useful or accurate for a particular purpose.