fairly ambitious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly ambitious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a goal, project, or plan that is somewhat challenging or requires significant effort to achieve. Example: "The team's proposal for the new marketing strategy is fairly ambitious, aiming to double our market share within the next year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Even fairly ambitious shows can be short-order jobs.

The New York Times - Arts

The short answer is a mix of fairly ambitious budget savings and improved growth forecasts.

The Economist

With 50 covers, it is a fairly ambitious business by Havana standards.

The Economist

"It was a fairly ambitious night to begin patrols," Captain Flatley said.

The New York Times

It's a fairly ambitious take on the function of the dinner table.

The New York Times - Food

Details of the festival are still coming together, but it stands to be fairly ambitious.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

It's true that a place like Perbacco — fairly small, with ambitious food at a reasonable cost, and no reservations — might begin to feel growing pains.

The New Yorker

"It's ambitious, fairly extensive, and very well done," adds medical microbiologist Jan Holmgren of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Science Magazine

He is fairly conservative, rich, powerful, ambitious and leading in the polls.

The Economist

Given that it is now fairly easy to recruit ambitious young teachers in London, thanks to the increasingly powerful pull of the capital, that discrepancy is too high.

The Economist

For 25 years, Ensler was a fairly obscure downtown playwright, ambitious but thwarted, anguished by bad reviews and tortured by injustices personal and global.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain clarity, position "fairly ambitious" close to the noun it modifies, such as in "a fairly ambitious plan" or "fairly ambitious goals".

Common error

Avoid using "fairly ambitious" when the goal is clearly either extremely challenging or trivially easy. Using it inappropriately can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly ambitious" primarily functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase, describing a noun. It indicates a moderate level of aspiration or challenge associated with the noun it modifies. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly ambitious" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase to describe a plan, goal, or project that requires a notable degree of effort and aspiration. It is versatile enough for use in news, business, and general writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered correct and widely applicable in English. When using the phrase, ensure that the level of ambition genuinely reflects the situation to maintain credibility and clarity. Alternatives like "moderately challenging" or "reasonably aspirational" can be used to fine-tune the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately challenging

Replaces "ambitious" with "challenging" and "fairly" with "moderately", focusing on the level of difficulty.

reasonably aspirational

Substitutes "ambitious" with "aspirational" and "fairly" with "reasonably", emphasizing hope and desire for success.

quite enterprising

Replaces "ambitious" with "enterprising", highlighting initiative and resourcefulness, and uses "quite" instead of "fairly".

somewhat bold

Changes the focus to the level of daring involved, using "bold" instead of "ambitious" and "somewhat" for "fairly".

relatively grand

Replaces "ambitious" with "grand", emphasizing scale and impressiveness, and "relatively" for "fairly".

passably audacious

Substitutes "ambitious" with "audacious", stressing willingness to take surprisingly bold risks, with "passably" replacing "fairly".

noticeably driven

Shifts the focus to motivation and determination using "driven", and replaces "fairly" with "noticeably".

markedly assertive

Replaces "ambitious" with "assertive", emphasizing confidence and forcefulness, and uses "markedly" instead of "fairly".

distinctly purposeful

Substitutes "ambitious" with "purposeful", stressing having clear goals and intent, using "distinctly" instead of "fairly".

measurably strategic

Changes the focus to the planning aspect, using "strategic" instead of "ambitious" and "measurably" for "fairly".

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly ambitious" to describe plans, goals, or projects that require significant effort but are realistically achievable. For example, "The company set a "fairly ambitious" target for sales growth this quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "fairly ambitious"?

Alternatives include "moderately challenging", "reasonably aspirational", or "quite enterprising", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "rather ambitious" instead of "fairly ambitious"?

Yes, "rather ambitious" is a similar and often interchangeable phrase. Both indicate a moderate level of ambition or challenge, but the choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

What's the difference between "fairly ambitious" and "very ambitious"?

"Fairly ambitious" suggests a moderate level of ambition, while "very ambitious" indicates a much higher degree of challenge and aspiration. The key difference lies in the intensity of the effort and potential impact.