a fairly dependable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fairly dependable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that is generally reliable or trustworthy, but with a slight qualification. Example: "The car is a fairly dependable model, often praised for its performance and durability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In the last five years or so, however, major hotel chains have begun dominating roadside budget hotels, and that has brought a fairly dependable level of consistency, Mr. Gordon said.

The New York Times

Ian Bryson, an analyst in Singapore at Control Risks, a consulting firm, said that there was less political risk in Malaysia than most of its regional peers and that the country benefited from relatively low corruption and a fairly dependable judiciary.

The New York Times

When the stock market can shed more than 500 points in a single day, investors no longer sneer at bonds, which, whatever their drawbacks, do deliver a fairly dependable return.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A fairly good actor.

Los Angeles Times

Like many people in late middle age, I had developed a set of fairly dependable mental algorithms for navigating whatever life threw at me, and while these are undeniably useful tools for coping with everyday life and getting things done, they leave little space for surprise or wonder or change.

The New York Times - Magazine

That should, in theory, make Shaw fairly dependable … but as AT&T has discovered in 2018, even controlling a significant market share in telecom doesn't always guarantee consistent stock returns.

Forbes

The quality isn't amazing, but it's fairly dependable with the more traditional cuts.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He did miss a short one for birdie at 16 yesterday, but other than that he's looked fairly dependable so far this week.

The Guardian - Sport

Publicly, Mancini has said little about the decision to abandon last year's fairly dependable back four, but Richards' suggestion that they haven't practised it that much made the use of it on Wednesday night a fairly remarkable gamble.

Independent

There it earns fairly dependable fee income by taking care of leasing, consulting, purchasing and administering vehicle fleets for big corporate customers.

Forbes

There it earns fairly dependable fee income by taking care of leasing, consulting, purchasing and administration of vehicle fleets for big corporate customers.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fairly dependable", ensure the context provides a clear understanding of what constitutes 'fair' dependability. Specify the aspect in which something is dependable to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a fairly dependable" when a higher degree of reliability is meant. If something is highly reliable, opt for stronger terms like "very dependable" or "completely reliable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fairly dependable" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It qualifies a noun, indicating a moderate level of reliability or trustworthiness. As Ludwig AI suggests, it implies that something is reliable to a reasonable extent, but not necessarily exceptionally so. Examples show it describing judiciary systems, hotel chains, and personal traits.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fairly dependable" is a phrase used to describe something that is moderately reliable or trustworthy. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is most commonly found in News & Media and Academic contexts. While grammatically sound and generally acceptable, it's essential to consider the context and desired level of emphasis when choosing this phrase. Alternatives like "moderately reliable" or "reasonably trustworthy" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Moderately reliable

Focuses on the degree of reliability, using a single adjective instead of a phrase.

Reasonably trustworthy

Replaces "dependable" with "trustworthy" and "fairly" with "reasonably" maintaining a similar nuance.

Somewhat reliable

Uses "somewhat" to indicate a limited degree of reliability, similar to "fairly".

Quite dependable

Emphasizes a slightly higher degree of reliability using "quite" instead of "fairly".

Passably reliable

Indicates an acceptable level of reliability, though not outstanding.

Adequately dependable

Focuses on meeting the minimum requirements for dependability.

Sufficiently reliable

Indicates that the reliability is enough for a particular purpose.

Acceptably dependable

Highlights that the level of dependability is within acceptable limits.

Generally reliable

Stresses overall reliability, omitting any qualifications.

Mostly dependable

Suggests that dependability is present in most situations but not all.

FAQs

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

You can use "a fairly dependable" to describe something that is generally reliable, but not exceptionally so. For example, "This car is "a fairly dependable" model for daily commutes".

What's the difference between "a fairly dependable" and "very dependable"?

"A fairly dependable" indicates a moderate level of reliability, whereas "very dependable" implies a high level of reliability. The choice depends on the specific degree of reliability you want to convey.

What can I say instead of "a fairly dependable"?

You can use alternatives like "moderately reliable", "reasonably trustworthy", or "somewhat reliable" depending on the context.

Is "a fairly dependable" formal or informal?

"A fairly dependable" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal situations might benefit from stronger, more precise language.