a fairly good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fairly good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a moderate level of quality or satisfaction with something, indicating that it is better than average but not excellent. Example: "The movie was a fairly good adaptation of the book, capturing most of the key themes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

VALENTINO I am a fairly good spectator.

The New York Times

A fairly good accuracy has been observed.

Electrochimica Acta

The results showed a fairly good agreement.

Advances in Space Research

Takter has a fairly good chance today.

The New York Times - Sports

The convict was a fairly good painter.

The New Yorker

A fairly good degree of discrimination was obtained.

Biosensors and Bioelectronics

Astrology has a fairly good record of being correct.

University of California, Berkeley

We think that Gov. Dewey made a fairly good combination.

The New Yorker

Germany has had a fairly good crisis so far.

The New York Times

They are in a fairly good agreement with literature data.

Chemical Engineering Science

A Fairly Good Time, by Mavis Gallant (Random House, $5.95).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fairly good" to describe something that is better than average but not exceptional. It's a balanced way to express satisfaction without overstatement. For example, "The team achieved a fairly good result, showing improvement over last season."

Common error

Avoid using "a fairly good" too often in your writing, as it can make your descriptions sound generic and lack specificity. Instead, try to provide more concrete details about what makes something "good". For example, instead of saying "The car has a fairly good engine", specify its horsepower or fuel efficiency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fairly good" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It's typically used to qualify nouns, indicating that something possesses a level of quality that is above average but not outstanding. Ludwig's examples show its versatility in describing various attributes, like accuracy, agreement, chance, or performance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

36%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a fairly good" is a common and versatile adjective phrase used to describe something that is better than average but not exceptional. Analysis of Ludwig examples reveals its widespread use across various domains, particularly in science, news media, and academia. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its neutral tone makes it suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Alternatives such as "reasonably good" or "quite good" can be used depending on the desired level of emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a balanced and moderate positive assessment, avoiding overuse to maintain the specificity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reasonably good

Indicates a level of goodness that is acceptable and practical but not necessarily outstanding.

a quite good

Emphasizes the goodness to a slightly higher degree than "fairly good".

a pretty good

More informal way to describe something that is considered good.

a considerably good

Indicates that something is good to a noticeable extent.

a substantially good

Emphasizes the degree of goodness significantly.

a significantly good

Suggests a notable level of goodness that stands out.

a markedly good

Highlights that the goodness is easily noticeable or distinct.

a moderately good

Suggests the level of goodness is acceptable, but not high.

an acceptably good

Describes something that meets the minimum requirements for being good.

a tolerably good

Indicates the level of goodness is just about sufficient or bearable.

FAQs

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

You can use "a fairly good" to describe something that is better than average but not excellent. For example: "The restaurant received "a fairly good review"." or "She has "a fairly good understanding" of the subject."

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

Alternatives include "reasonably good", "quite good", or "pretty good". The best choice depends on the context and the desired level of formality.

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

"Fairly good" suggests something is above average but not outstanding, whereas "very good" implies a higher level of quality. The choice depends on how strongly you want to express your positive assessment. If you want to be more emphatic, use "very good".

What is the difference between "a fairly good" and "a moderately good"?

"A fairly good" suggests a balanced and generally positive assessment. "A moderately good" implies that something is good to some extent, but not exceptionally so, often emphasizing that there is room for improvement. Use "a moderately good" when you want to temper your praise.