fairly believe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly believe" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used when expressing a moderate level of belief or confidence in something, but it is better to use it in informal contexts. Example: "I fairly believe that we will finish the project on time, given our current progress."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

On the contrary, since the order appears untouched, Americans would fairly believe they were safe from wiretaps overseas, all because the department of justice's office of legal council ruled the president doesn't have to tell us when he changes the rules.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A strong majority of Chicagoans don't think the city's cops treat all citizens fairly and believe a cover-up "code of silence" is widespread in the Police Department, helping drive a record-low approval rating for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's handling of crime, a Chicago Tribune poll has found.

Los Angeles Times

People seemed to believe, fairly reasonably, that the health and position of any aircraft in our skies is being streamed back to a base somewhere pretty much in real time.

Vice

People seemed to believe, fairly reasonably, that the well-being and position of any aircraft in the sky is being streamed back to a base somewhere in real time.

Vice

These newly released men might fairly have believed that they had achieved a great social victory through their actions and their sacrifice.

The New Yorker

Radomski appears to harbor no bitterness over this chain of events, and at one point in the book says how fairly he believes Novitzky treated him.

The New York Times - Sports

It's all fairly logical, I believe".

The New Yorker

"Take that from them … We could do that, I believe, fairly easily".

The Guardian

"It's fairly difficult to believe in this comeback, but anything is possible in football," the striker said.

Independent

Toward the end of the piece, he asks, "Has Passaic replaced Rome as The Eternal City?," and, by that point, you are fairly prepared to believe it.

The New Yorker

"It all has to be paid back at the same time".Finding a way outEven if it is feasible to replace government equity fairly quickly, most believe that it will take far longer for governments to exit their debt guarantees.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fairly believe", consider whether a stronger or more direct verb like "think", "expect", or "trust" would be more impactful, especially in formal writing. For example: "I think this is a good idea."

Common error

Avoid using "fairly believe" when you want to express a strong conviction. This phrase indicates a moderate level of belief, so using it in situations that require certainty might undermine your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly believe" functions as a hedge, moderating the strength of the verb "believe". It's employed to express a belief with a degree of uncertainty or caution. As Ludwig AI mentions, the phrase may sound awkward to some readers.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fairly believe" is used to express a moderate level of certainty, functioning as a hedge in communication. Ludwig AI suggests that the expression might sound somewhat awkward. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts. While grammatically acceptable, it's advisable to consider stronger or more direct verbs for a more impactful statement in formal writing. Alternatives like "reasonably believe" or "genuinely think" can offer similar nuances, depending on the desired level of conviction. When aiming for clarity and impact, assess if "fairly believe" precisely conveys your intended meaning. Also, the phrase is not very common in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably believe

Suggests a belief based on sound judgment and logic, more emphasis on rationality.

genuinely think

Implies a sincere and heartfelt conviction, more emphasis on sincerity.

sincerely believe

Emphasizes the honesty and depth of the belief, highlighting the lack of deception.

moderately believe

Explicitly indicates a moderate level of belief, quantifying the conviction.

somewhat believe

Suggests a partial or incomplete belief, less strong conviction.

have reason to believe

Highlights the presence of evidence or justification for the belief, less about feeling.

find it plausible

Focuses on the believability or likelihood of something, shifting from personal belief.

consider it likely

Expresses a judgment about the probability of an event, less emphasis on conviction.

tend to believe

Indicates a general inclination towards belief, a habitual leaning.

presume to think

Suggests a cautious or tentative belief, implies consideration before assertion.

FAQs

What does "fairly believe" mean?

"Fairly believe" suggests a moderate level of confidence or certainty in something. It indicates you have some reason to think something is true, but you're not entirely convinced.

When should I use "fairly believe" in a sentence?

Use "fairly believe" when you want to express a belief that is based on some evidence or reasoning, but you aren't completely certain. It's suitable in situations where you want to convey a balanced perspective without overstating your confidence.

What are some alternatives to "fairly believe"?

You can use alternatives like "reasonably believe", "genuinely think", or "moderately believe" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific nuance you want to express.

Is it more appropriate to use "I believe" or "I fairly believe"?

"I believe" is generally stronger and more direct. Use "I fairly believe" when you want to temper your conviction and suggest that there is room for doubt. The choice depends on how certain you are and how you want to present your opinion.