a fairly small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fairly small" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe the size or quantity of something that is not large or significant but not very small either. It can also imply that the size or quantity is adequate or sufficient. Example: "We bought a fairly small house, but it has enough space for our family of four." In this sentence, "fairly small" is used to describe the size of the house as not being large, but still adequate for the family's needs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We're a fairly small cohort of 11.

Stanford University

"Goshen is a fairly small community.

The New York Times

And it's still a fairly small space.

The New York Times - Arts

In most, they have a fairly small majority.

The Economist

But they rely on a fairly small number of foods.

The New York Times - Health

You could have a fairly small- size object.

The New York Times - Science

Since we're in a fairly small neighborhood, we see many labels.

Stanford University

When Google came up with the Android operating system, they had a fairly small patent portfolio.

Yale University

Only a fairly small reserve is held in cash and other "liquid" assets.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

These recommendations attract a fairly small audience but are highly engaging to those particular readers.

Stanford University

It seems the down-select makes this a fairly small fraction of the total population.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fairly small" when you want to indicate that something is not large, but not so insignificant as to be called 'tiny' or 'minuscule'. It suggests a moderate degree of smallness.

Common error

Avoid using "a fairly small" when describing something truly tiny or insignificant. Using it in such cases could mislead the reader about the actual scale or importance of what you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fairly small" functions primarily as a pre-modifier in a noun phrase. It qualifies the noun by indicating its size. According to Ludwig, it is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that isn't large but isn't tiny either.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

22%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Science

13%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a fairly small" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase that functions to describe something of a moderate size. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage across varied contexts, like News, Academics, Science and Wiki. When seeking alternatives, consider phrases such as "a reasonably small" or "a moderately small" to convey a similar meaning. It is best used when precision is not critical, but an estimation of size is needed, and should be avoided when describing something truly tiny.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reasonably small

Implies a level of adequacy or acceptability in its smallness.

a moderately small

Suggests a size that is limited but not insignificant.

a somewhat small

Indicates a slight degree of smallness.

a relatively small

Highlights the size in comparison to something else.

a rather small

Adds a touch of subjective judgment about the size.

a quite small

Similar to 'rather small' but can imply more emphasis.

a considerably small

Implies a noticeable degree of smallness.

a markedly small

Emphasizes the smallness as being easily observed.

a noticeably small

Highlights the visibility of the small size.

a marginally small

Indicates that the size is just barely small.

FAQs

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

You can use "a fairly small" to describe the size or quantity of something. For example, "The town has "a fairly small population" compared to the capital city".

What are some alternatives to "a fairly small"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "a reasonably small", "a moderately small", or "a somewhat small".

Is "a fairly small" the same as "a very small"?

No, "a fairly small" suggests something is smaller than average but not extremely so, while "a very small" implies something is significantly smaller. Use "a fairly small" when "a very small" would be an overstatement.

When is it appropriate to use "a fairly small" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to convey that something is on the smaller side without exaggerating its smallness. It's suitable for scenarios where precision isn't critical, but a general sense of size is relevant.