fairly casually

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly casually" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or behavior that is done with a moderate level of informality or ease. Example: "She approached the meeting fairly casually, wearing jeans and a t-shirt instead of formal attire."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I think the words "mind-blowing" get thrown around a lot fairly casually these days but to me that book was truly mind-blowing.

The Guardian

The general tone is pessimistic, though not cynical, and the unhappy outcome of Willie's pregnancy is treated fairly casually as something less than tragic.

The Guardian - Film

Macfarlane had been collecting these words "fairly casually for a long time", before a trip to windfarm-threatened marshes on the Hebridean Isle of Lewis brought home the need for a "counter-desecration phrasebook".

Independent

During his recent presentation detailing SpaceX's plan to get to Mars, Musk fielded a question about radiation fairly casually, noting that exposure risk wouldn't be "deadly" in the amounts likely for the trip.

TechCrunch

Most are dressed fairly casually, including Obama, who wears a windbreaker over a golf shirt.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Her own is fairly evident, especially once she casually makes the accusation that Lilly's husband, Arnold (Cary Elwes), a rich lawyer, molested her when she was younger.

The New York Times

So he is sometimes cruel; with exhausting cunning he lures an older boy into fairly innocent sexual experimentation and then casually betrays him to a gang that beats him senseless in a homophobic rage.

The New York Times

In sum, the volume offers a fairly hopeful perspective or at least counters a casually cynical perspective on our prospects for knowing other times and places.

Cornell University

And it brought to mind a conversation I had last year with a fairly senior executive of a major internet company, who casually mentioned that his organisation's head of security "wouldn't dream of using online banking".

The Guardian - Tech

According to the Associated Press, what we saw at UC-Davis -- a campus police officer, who did not appear in any way to be in danger, casually doused students who were peacefully protesting -- is considered "fairly standard police procedure".

Huffington Post

Genderbending is fairly common in Japanese anime, so it is refreshing to see it approached casually in an American cartoon.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly casually" to describe actions or attitudes that are relaxed and informal but not excessively so. It suggests a moderate degree of nonchalance.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly casually" when you want to emphasize extreme indifference or a complete lack of concern. In such cases, consider stronger adverbs like "blatantly" or "completely".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly casually" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing how an action is performed. It combines the adverb "fairly", indicating degree, with "casually", specifying the manner. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it modifies verbs to express a moderate level of informality or ease.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fairly casually" is grammatically correct and functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a moderate degree of informality or ease in how an action is performed. According to Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register. While not extremely common, it provides a nuanced way to describe actions that are relaxed but not excessively so. When using "fairly casually", be mindful of the context and avoid overstating the level of casualness. Consider alternatives like "somewhat informally" or "rather relaxed" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite casually

Replaces "fairly" with "quite", suggesting slightly higher degree of casualness.

somewhat nonchalantly

Replaces "fairly" with "somewhat" and "casually" with "nonchalantly", suggesting a more detached manner.

rather indifferently

Substitutes "fairly" with "rather" and "casually" with "indifferently", implying a lack of concern.

pretty informally

Replaces "fairly casually" with "pretty informally", focusing on the lack of formality.

in a relaxed manner

Replaces "fairly casually" with a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the relaxed nature of the action.

with moderate ease

Focuses on the easiness with which something is done, downplaying the casual aspect.

without much concern

Emphasizes the lack of worry or stress in the action.

in a breezy fashion

Implies a lighthearted and effortless approach.

somewhat flippantly

Suggests a dismissive or disrespectful casualness.

rather lightly

Implies handling something without taking it too seriously.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly casually" to describe actions done with a moderate level of informality or ease. For example: "She approached the meeting "fairly casually", wearing jeans and a t-shirt instead of formal attire."

What are some alternatives to "fairly casually"?

Alternatives include "somewhat informally" or "rather relaxed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "fairly casually"?

Yes, "fairly casually" is grammatically correct and commonly used to modify verbs, describing the manner in which an action is performed.

What does "fairly casually" imply about the action being described?

It suggests that the action is performed without much effort or formality, but not necessarily with complete indifference. The degree of casualness is moderate.