fairly comparable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly comparable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the similarities or differences between two or more items, indicating that they are somewhat alike but not identical. Example: "The two products are fairly comparable in terms of quality, though one is slightly more expensive than the other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Compared to VA-UGMs, RAP-UGMs exhibit fairly comparable Mr at non-freezing temperatures.

Construction and Building Materials

I think we're fairly comparable off the tee.

The New York Times - Sports

For a given PNIPAM sample, the molar mass distributions obtained in different solvents are fairly comparable.

Polymer

Catalytic performance was fairly comparable to that of powdered Co-mordenite.

Catalysis Today

The two effects were found to be fairly comparable at Ar0.5= 0.45.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

The amounts are fairly comparable to what Mr. Thompson's predecessor, Carol A. Bartz, received when she joined Yahoo in 2009.

The New York Times

Chapter one lists each year's allocation to health and NHS England – both the "nominal" amount handed over, and more fairly comparable "real" figures adjusted for inflation.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I believe at the big-league level that's the separator between the winners and the losers because the talent is fairly comparable".

The New York Times - Sports

While it's not a duplication of Granovetter's study, watching 380 success stories collected from 2012 to 2014 allowed me to conduct a fairly comparable study.

Harvard Business Review

The one live interview survey that is fairly comparable to the national polls is from Marquette, and it shows Clinton up nine points in Wisconsin.

The New York Times

After 3rd-REM awakening more than one third of NC patients and controls gave prompted reports, which were fairly comparable in length and complexity with the spontaneous reports.

Brain Research Bulletin

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing items, use "fairly comparable" to indicate they share similarities without being identical. This nuanced approach helps provide a balanced and accurate assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly comparable" when the items are nearly identical or vastly different. Choose a more appropriate descriptor like "identical" or "dissimilar" to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly comparable" functions as a descriptive expression, modifying a noun or noun phrase to indicate a moderate degree of similarity. Ludwig provides numerous examples where it qualifies the extent to which two or more items share common attributes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fairly comparable" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe items that share a moderate degree of similarity. As evidenced by Ludwig, it appears frequently in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, indicating its versatility and acceptance across various domains. The phrase serves to provide balanced assessments, avoiding exaggeration while still highlighting likeness. When using "fairly comparable", it's essential to ensure the context accurately reflects a moderate degree of similarity, and to consider alternatives like "reasonably similar" or "somewhat equivalent" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably similar

Indicates a similarity that is adequate or acceptable, implying a level of closeness that meets expectations.

moderately alike

Highlights a similarity that is neither strong nor weak, suggesting a balanced degree of resemblance.

somewhat equivalent

Suggests a partial or limited equivalence, where things share some but not all qualities.

roughly equivalent

Points to an approximate equality, acknowledging minor differences but emphasizing overall sameness.

relatively similar

Emphasizes similarity in relation to something else, suggesting a comparison that reveals likeness.

quite alike

Indicates a noticeable degree of similarity, suggesting things are considerably comparable.

passably similar

Suggests a similarity that is just good enough or acceptable, without being outstanding.

adequately comparable

Highlights that the level of comparability is sufficient for a specific purpose or requirement.

almost identical

Indicates that things are very close to being the same, with only slight differences.

largely the same

Suggests that the primary aspects or components are equal or undifferentiated.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly comparable" to describe items that share similarities without being identical. For instance, "The two smartphones are "fairly comparable" in terms of battery life, but one has a better camera".

What are some alternatives to "fairly comparable"?

Alternatives include "reasonably similar", "moderately alike", or "somewhat equivalent", depending on the context and the degree of similarity you want to convey.

Is "fairly comparable" the same as "very comparable"?

No, "fairly comparable" suggests a moderate degree of similarity, while "very comparable" indicates a higher degree of likeness. The choice depends on how closely the items align.

Can "fairly comparable" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "fairly comparable" is suitable for formal writing as it provides a nuanced and accurate description of similarities without exaggeration. It's common in academic, business, and news contexts.