doing fairly well

USAGE SUMMARY

"doing fairly well" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that somebody or something is not doing excellent but is still performing satisfactorily. For example, "I am doing fairly well in school this semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Instead, it was doing fairly well.

The Economist

"So far, we're doing fairly well".

The New York Times - Science

But we're still doing fairly well.

The Guardian

In other respects the city is doing fairly well.

The Economist

And that includes many considered to be doing fairly well.

The New York Times

"The combination of recruiting and retention is doing fairly well".

The New York Times

Marriott has actually been doing fairly well in the developing world.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Operationally, Anglo did fairly well.

The Economist

"They did fairly well, actually".

The New York Times - Magazine

Rafi Eitan did fairly well, too.

The New York Times

Moreover, Republicans tend to do fairly well with married women.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "doing fairly well" to convey a sense of moderate success or progress without implying excellence. It's suitable when you want to acknowledge positive performance that doesn't reach the highest level.

Common error

Avoid using "doing fairly well" when describing exceptional results or achievements. Opt for stronger terms like "excelling", "thriving", or "doing exceptionally well" to accurately reflect superior performance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing fairly well" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, often to describe the manner in which an action is performed or a state is maintained. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "doing fairly well" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a state of satisfactory performance or moderate success. Ludwig AI supports this with numerous examples spanning various contexts, from news and media to academia and business. While not implying exceptional achievement, it conveys a positive assessment. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the level of success without overstating or understating the actual performance. For situations that demand greater precision, consider alternatives like "doing reasonably well" or "performing satisfactorily".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doing reasonably well

Replaces "fairly" with "reasonably", suggesting a slightly different degree of success but remaining close in meaning.

performing satisfactorily

Uses a more formal and explicit term for adequate performance.

doing adequately

Replaces "fairly well" with a single word conveying sufficient performance.

functioning properly

Emphasizes the correct operation of something, similar to performing well.

doing all right

Uses a more colloquial expression for a similar level of satisfactory performance.

managing okay

Implies a level of management that is acceptable but not great.

making decent progress

Shifts the focus to the progress being made rather than the overall state.

holding their own

Suggests maintaining a position without necessarily excelling.

progressing nicely

Focuses specifically on the positive aspect of advancement.

getting by

Indicates managing to survive or cope but with some difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "doing fairly well" in a sentence?

You can use "doing fairly well" to describe someone or something that is performing adequately or making satisfactory progress, as in "The company is "doing fairly well" despite the recent economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to "doing fairly well"?

Some alternatives include "doing reasonably well", "doing adequately", or "making decent progress", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "doing fairly well" in formal writing?

Yes, "doing fairly well" is generally acceptable in formal writing, although more precise or technical terms may be preferred depending on the context. For example, "performing satisfactorily" may be a more formal alternative.

What's the difference between "doing fairly well" and "doing very well"?

"Doing fairly well" suggests a moderate level of success or progress, while "doing very well" implies a higher degree of achievement. The choice depends on accurately reflecting the level of performance.