a fairly recent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fairly recent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has occurred or been created not long ago, indicating a moderate degree of recency. Example: "The study presents findings from a fairly recent survey conducted among college students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Prestige cuvées are a fairly recent invention.

The New York Times - Food

This is a fairly recent notion.

The New Yorker

This challenge is a fairly recent one.

The New York Times

ODR is still a fairly recent industry.

Harvard University

Childhood is a fairly recent economic innovation.

The New York Times - Magazine

Palliative care is a fairly recent development in The Netherlands.

Patient Education and Counseling

In fact, it is a fairly recent invention.

The New York Times

In any case, Amarone is a fairly recent marketing phenomenon.

The New York Times - Food

For great writers, retirement is a fairly recent career option.

The New York Times - Books

Of course, this is a fairly recent rule.

The New York Times

It is a fairly recent addition to Japanese cuisine.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fairly recent" to indicate a moderate degree of recency, suitable for academic, journalistic, and general writing. It strikes a balance between formality and approachability.

Common error

Avoid using "a fairly recent" repeatedly in a single paragraph. Vary your language by using synonyms like "relatively new" or "recently developed" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fairly recent" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating that the noun is of relatively new origin or occurrence. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

24%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a fairly recent" functions as an adjective phrase used to describe something of moderate recency. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is commonly found in news, scientific, and academic writing. It indicates that something is not brand new, but also not old or long-standing. While grammatically correct, it's important to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "relatively new" or "somewhat recent" for variety. The Ludwig AI analysis confirms that this phrase is widely accepted and used across various authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively recent

Emphasizes the comparison to something older, highlighting the recency in contrast.

quite recent

Indicates a noticeable degree of recency, slightly stronger than "fairly recent".

pretty recent

More informal way to express something is recent.

somewhat recent

Suggests a moderate level of recency, perhaps less pronounced than "fairly recent".

newish

Informal term to describe something new.

newly established

Focuses on the establishment or creation of something not long ago.

freshly introduced

Highlights the introduction or unveiling of something new.

of recent origin

More formal way of saying recent.

not long ago

Simply states that something occurred in the recent past.

in recent times

Emphasizes that it happened in the current era.

FAQs

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

You can use "a fairly recent" to describe something that is not very old. For example, "This is "a fairly recent development" in the field of medicine."

What are some alternatives to "a fairly recent"?

Some alternatives include "relatively new", "somewhat recent", or "newly established depending" on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a fairly recent" or "a very recent"?

"A fairly recent" suggests a moderate level of recency, while "a very recent" implies something happened much more recently. Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual timeframe you're describing.

What's the difference between "a fairly recent" and "a recent"?

"A recent" implies something happened or was created in the immediate past. "A fairly recent" suggests that while it's not old, it's also not brand new. The inclusion of "fairly" softens the immediacy of "recent".