fairly clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'fairly clear' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is generally understandable, but not completely obvious. For example, "The instructions for assembling the furniture were fairly clear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That's fairly clear.

The New York Times

One reality seems fairly clear.

The New York Times - Arts

The guidance is fairly clear.

Independent

I think it's fairly clear.

Yale University

The pattern was fairly clear.

The Guardian - Sport

"Wales is fairly clear cut.

The Guardian

The facts are fairly clear.

The New York Times

(The BBC has a fairly clear explanation).

The New Yorker

The legal answer is fairly clear.

The New York Times

However, the battle lines are fairly clear.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Its results were fairly clear.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly clear" to indicate a level of understanding that is above average but not perfect. It's useful when you want to acknowledge some ambiguity or complexity remains.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly clear" when the situation demands absolute precision or leaves no room for interpretation. In legal or technical contexts, strive for unambiguous language instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly clear" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun, indicating a moderate level of clarity or comprehensibility. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

20%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fairly clear" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something is moderately easy to understand. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for diverse contexts, predominantly appearing in News & Media, Academia, and Science. While not implying absolute clarity, it suggests a reasonable level of comprehensibility. For situations demanding higher precision, alternatives like "reasonably obvious" or "pretty straightforward" might be more appropriate. When using "fairly clear", ensure that the context aligns with its moderate implication, avoiding overstatement in situations requiring complete precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably obvious

Emphasizes the ease with which something can be understood, slightly more direct than "fairly clear".

moderately apparent

Indicates a level of visibility or understanding that is neither strong nor weak.

somewhat transparent

Suggests a lack of hidden information, making something easier to understand.

pretty straightforward

Highlights the simplicity and ease of understanding something.

largely understood

Focuses on the widespread comprehension of a concept or idea.

adequately defined

Suggests that something is explained well enough to be understood.

passably lucid

Indicates a level of clarity that is acceptable but not exceptional.

comparatively explicit

Highlights the relative directness and clarity of something compared to something else.

acceptably distinct

Suggests that something is differentiated enough to be easily recognized or understood.

noticeably defined

Emphasizes that something is clearly marked or outlined, making it easy to perceive.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly clear" to describe something that is understandable but not entirely obvious, such as, "The instructions were "fairly clear", but I still needed some help."

What are some alternatives to "fairly clear"?

Alternatives to "fairly clear" include "reasonably obvious", "moderately apparent", or "pretty straightforward" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "fairly clear" or "very clear"?

"Fairly clear" suggests a moderate level of understanding, while "very clear" indicates a high level of understanding. The best choice depends on the actual degree of clarity you want to express. If you can understand it well but with some level of effort, then "fairly clear" is the best choice.

What does "fairly clear" imply about the level of understanding?

"Fairly clear" implies that something is understandable enough for most people, but some minor details might still be ambiguous or require further clarification.