fairly inadequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly inadequate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat lacking or insufficient in quality or quantity. Example: "The report was fairly inadequate, failing to address several key issues that needed attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Fairly poor.

The New Yorker

Rather, she calls those mere symptoms of what she views as more fundamental, less obvious ailments: the breakdown of the family, the decline of higher education, lapses of modern science, tax systems that do not distribute money fairly and the inadequate self-regulation of professions.

The New York Times

As presented by Squires et al., one main avenue for intervention lies in the fact that livestock health and quality are at present fairly low due to inadequate feed, especially over the region's long, harsh winters.

Pastoralism

Accumulated evidence suggests that GP referral letters often lack essential clinical information, for example, 38% of specialists in outpatients reported that referral letters contain inadequate information fairly often or very often [ 2, 3].

BMC Health Services Research

Assessing her voice fairly was impossible because of inadequate amplification, but her top notes, at least, rang out surely.

The New York Times - Arts

But Bishop Malooly said his concern throughout the negotiations was that too large a settlement with some victims "would leave inadequate resources to fairly compensate" the others, "and continue our ministry".

The New York Times

But the dairy consumption was still fairly low and leads to inadequate calcium intake.

BMC Public Health

In one reader's report, we see him demolish a well-known historian, calling her research "shockingly inadequate" and her writing "fairly drab".

The New York Times - Books

This is a fairly complex process that is made more difficult by inadequate reports of EBIs in the scientific literature.

BioMed Research International

director of policy and campaigns, says: "Whirlpool must do more to treat customers fairly, and the government must review this case and the entire inadequate product safety system".

The Guardian - Money

The contamination simulations suggest that the work currently planned by local authorities will be inadequate for preventing increased water pollution, and that additional but fairly inexpensive management measures for maintaining the current level of water quality should be considered.

Journal of Environmental Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "fairly inadequate" with a specific explanation of what is inadequate and why. For example, "The budget was fairly inadequate, failing to cover essential marketing expenses."

Common error

Avoid relying on "fairly inadequate" as a universal descriptor. Overuse can weaken your writing and make it seem less precise. Explore synonyms to add variety and nuance to your expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly inadequate" functions as an adverb-adjective combination used to modify nouns or noun phrases. It indicates a moderate degree of insufficiency or lack, suggesting something is less than satisfactory but not entirely deficient. According to Ludwig AI, this is a grammatically correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fairly inadequate" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe something that is moderately insufficient. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Although its frequency is relatively low, it appears in various contexts, including news, scientific publications, and formal writing. When using this phrase, be mindful of the specific context and whether a stronger or more precise term might be more appropriate. Alternatives such as ""somewhat inadequate"" or "rather inadequate" can provide similar nuances. It's recommended to provide context specifying what and why something is being deemed "fairly inadequate".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat inadequate

Indicates a slightly lesser degree of inadequacy than the original phrase.

rather inadequate

Similar in meaning, but slightly more formal.

quite inadequate

Expresses a similar level of inadequacy with a different tone.

pretty inadequate

More informal but carries a similar meaning.

marginally insufficient

Emphasizes the slight degree to which something falls short.

slightly deficient

Focuses on the lacking aspect, implying a minor shortfall.

barely satisfactory

Highlights that something just meets the minimum requirements, with little room to spare.

passably deficient

Highlights that something meets the minimum acceptance level while still being deficient.

moderately lacking

Emphasizes a balanced perspective on what is missing.

somewhat wanting

Indicates that something lacks a necessary quality or attribute to a certain extent.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly inadequate" to describe something that is somewhat lacking or insufficient. For example, "The preparation was "somewhat inadequate" for the task ahead".

What can I say instead of "fairly inadequate"?

You can use alternatives like ""somewhat inadequate"", "rather inadequate", or "quite inadequate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "fairly inadequate" or "very inadequate"?

"Fairly inadequate" implies a lesser degree of inadequacy compared to "very inadequate". The choice depends on the specific level of insufficiency you wish to convey. "Very inadequate" suggests a more severe deficiency.

What's the difference between "fairly inadequate" and "slightly inadequate"?

"Fairly inadequate" and "slightly inadequate" are similar, but "fairly" suggests a more noticeable degree of inadequacy than "slightly". You might use "slightly inadequate" when the deficiency is barely perceptible.