fairly even

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly even" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that is relatively balanced or uniform, but not perfectly so. Example: "The competition was fairly even, with both teams showing strong performances throughout the match."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was fairly even," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

In science the results are fairly even.

The Economist

The play itself was fairly even.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I think these teams are fairly even".

The New York Times - Sports

I see it as a fairly even exchange".

The New York Times - Sports

Overall, then, it was fairly even, broadly a draw.

The Guardian

People should be treated fairly, even if they are politicians.

The Economist

Peel and seed fruit, and cut into fairly even slices.

The New York Times - Food

While we strive for a fairly even distribution for each barcode, we cannot guarantee this.

Yale University

Distribution is fairly even, but the majority of the rainy days occur in winter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The greyhounds, on the other hand, maintained a fairly even stride frequency throughout their entire run.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fairly even" to describe distributions, ensure that the context clearly defines the parameters being compared. For example, "The distribution of ages was fairly even across the sample group."

Common error

Avoid using "fairly even" when the situation is clearly imbalanced. Using the phrase in such contexts can mislead the reader and undermine the credibility of your description. Instead use more precise terms to reflect the true state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly even" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, describing a state of near-equality or balance. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is commonly used to describe distributions, contests, or comparisons where the elements are not perfectly equal but are close.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fairly even" is a versatile and commonly used expression to describe a situation where elements are balanced or equal to a reasonable extent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and academic settings, it serves to provide a nuanced assessment, indicating near-equality without asserting perfect balance. When writing, it is recommended to use "fairly even" when comparing parameters within a clear context, and avoid its use when the situation is clearly imbalanced. Alternatives like "relatively balanced" or "reasonably equal" can be used for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively balanced

Emphasizes the balanced aspect, suggesting that the components are in proportion to each other.

reasonably equal

Highlights the equality aspect, indicating that the items or factors are nearly the same.

more or less equal

Implies a slight degree of approximation to equality, allowing for minor discrepancies.

roughly comparable

Suggests similarity to the point of being able to compare, but not necessarily identical.

nearly identical

Focuses on the close similarity, suggesting only minor differences exist.

almost the same

Indicates a high degree of similarity, differing only in minor aspects.

substantially similar

Highlights that the similarities are significant and outweigh the differences.

largely uniform

Emphasizes the consistent nature of the elements, suggesting they are mostly the same throughout.

moderately balanced

Expresses a balance that is present to a degree, although it may not be perfect.

comparatively uniform

Implies that the uniformity is notable when compared to something else, with some degree of difference.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly even" to describe situations where things are relatively balanced or equal. For example, "The competition was fairly even throughout the tournament", or "The workload was fairly even among the team members".

What's a good substitute for "fairly even"?

Alternatives include "relatively balanced", "reasonably equal", or "roughly comparable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it okay to use "fairly even" in formal writing?

Yes, "fairly even" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a neutral and clear way to describe a state of near-equality or balance, as demonstrated in examples from sources like The New York Times and The Economist.

What does "fairly even" imply about the distribution of something?

When describing a distribution, "fairly even" suggests that the items are spread out in a balanced manner, without significant clustering or gaps. For example, "The distribution of SNPs across contigs was fairly even".