fairly if not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly if not" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is at least to a certain degree true, and possibly even more so. Example: "The project was fairly if not exceptionally successful, exceeding all our expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

When we size each other up, our eyes evidently trump our ears; the actual Jellinek comes across as a fairly, if not entirely, regular American.

The New Yorker

"After the civil war, disarmament was fairly — if not very — successful in Liberia, but there are still a lot of weapons around in Côte d'Ivoire," she said.

The New York Times

Keith Pomroy Keith Pomroy, editor of Real Estate Securities Monthly, agrees that REITs are "fairly, if not fully valued".

Forbes

AFP is reporting Philippe Stark and Apple have teamed up on a project that Starck called "fairly, if not very, revolutionary".

TechCrunch

So, I have made a personal vow to treat my children fairly, if not equally.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The results are garish and fairly unappetizing, if not literally embalmed.

The New York Times - Arts

The 200-bottle wine list is solid and fairly priced, if not memorable.

The New York Times

Nuclear can, in some perfectly reasonable analyses, appear fairly affordable if not "too cheap to meter".

The Guardian

Most impressive was the ease with which she inhabited the minds of a wide range of characters — each of them fairly unremarkable, if not downright unpleasant.

The Guardian - Books

It was a pep talk about the good in America that can overcome these dark days: cute and fairly clever, if not uproariously funny.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"In reality, there's lots of other people posting information about you without your control and it is fairly difficult – if not impossible – to police the social media circles of everyone you know," says Marwick.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly if not" to introduce a statement that is true to a certain extent but could be even more accurate or applicable than initially suggested. It's useful for nuanced qualifications.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly if not" when the primary adjective is already strong or absolute. For instance, "fairly if not completely certain" is redundant since "completely certain" leaves no room for further qualification. Choose a more moderate term instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly if not" functions as a qualifier, indicating a degree of something while suggesting it could be even more so. It serves to moderate or refine a statement, as supported by Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fairly if not" is a qualifier used to indicate that something is true to a certain degree, with the possibility of being even more so. Ludwig's analysis confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and typically used in neutral or professional contexts, like news or scientific articles, to express measured assessments. While examples are relatively rare, understanding its function can enhance precision in writing. Remember to avoid redundancy by not pairing it with absolute terms. The alternative phrases like "quite possibly" or "to some extent if not fully" can be also considered for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably if not

Replaces "fairly" with "reasonably", maintaining a similar level of qualification.

to some extent, if not fully

This phrase specifies that something is true to a certain degree, possibly completely.

moderately, if not highly

Replaces "fairly" with "moderately" and emphasizes a potentially higher degree.

certainly, if not definitely

Emphasizes the certainty of something, suggesting it might even be definitive.

quite possibly

This is a shorter phrase. Omits the degree to which something might be true and focuses on possibility.

somewhat, perhaps even

This uses "somewhat" to indicate a lesser degree and "perhaps even" to suggest a possibility of more.

probably even

This shifts the emphasis slightly to suggest that something is likely and possibly more.

arguably, maybe even

This presents something as debatable but suggests it could be even more so.

at least somewhat

This highlights the minimum degree to which something is true.

rather than not

Highlights that it is more of one than the opposite.

FAQs

How can I use "fairly if not" in a sentence?

Use "fairly if not" to indicate that something is true to a certain degree, but could possibly be even more so. For example, "The project was "fairly if not" exceptionally successful, exceeding all expectations."

What's a good alternative to "fairly if not"?

You can use alternatives such as "quite possibly" or "to some extent if not fully" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to follow "fairly if not" with an absolute term?

Yes, using "fairly if not" with an absolute term like "completely" can be redundant. It's better to use a moderate term that allows for qualification.

In what contexts is "fairly if not" most appropriate?

The phrase ""fairly if not"" works best in formal writing or speech where you want to express a nuanced assessment. It's suitable for news articles, academic papers, or professional reports. Avoid using it in very informal settings.