fairly large

USAGE SUMMARY

"fairly large" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe the size of something that is neither very small nor very large, but somewhere in between. Example: The new office building has a fairly large conference room that can accommodate up to 50 people.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Internment actually had fairly large loopholes.

The New York Times - Arts

"The crowds for him were fairly large.

The New York Times

That's a fairly large "if", though, of course.

The Guardian - Sport

"That said, the market here is fairly large and significant.

The New York Times

"For a fairly large deal, they've been quite mum".

The New York Times

You needed a lawn, and a fairly large one".

The Guardian

We have fairly large tracts of land in Connecticut.

The New York Times

Others are fairly large emitters, such as Argentina.

The Guardian

And it's a fairly large complex," General Myers said.

The New York Times

Crumble in the feta, keeping the pieces fairly large.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I attend college at a fairly large Northeastern university.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add more emphasis or precision, consider replacing "fairly large" with more descriptive terms like "considerable", "substantial", or even quantify it: "approximately 300 square feet".

Common error

Avoid using "fairly large" when the object is actually very small or exceptionally big. This can mislead your audience. Instead, opt for more accurate descriptors like "small", "average-sized", or "enormous" depending on the true scale.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly large" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, used to describe the size or extent of a noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. It indicates a degree of largeness that is more than moderate, but not extreme.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

22%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly large" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival phrase that functions to describe something as being more than moderately sized, but not exceptionally so. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media contexts, followed by Wiki and Scientific sources, indicating a generally neutral register. While widely acceptable, it's important to consider the context and whether a more precise descriptor would be more appropriate. Alternatives like "moderately big" or "reasonably sized" can be used for similar effect. It’s crucial to avoid using "fairly large" when describing items that are significantly smaller or larger, to maintain accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately big

Replaces "large" with "big" and "fairly" with "moderately", indicating a similar but slightly different degree.

reasonably sized

Substitutes "large" with "sized" and "fairly" with "reasonably", implying an acceptable or appropriate size.

somewhat extensive

Replaces "large" with "extensive" and "fairly" with "somewhat", focusing on scope or range rather than just size.

quite substantial

Substitutes "large" with "substantial" and "fairly" with "quite", suggesting considerable size or amount.

noticeably significant

Shifts the focus to the importance or impact of the size, using "significant" instead of "large" and "noticeably" instead of "fairly".

appreciably immense

Replaces "large" with "immense" and "fairly" with "appreciably", indicating a considerable degree of hugeness.

markedly broad

Substitutes "large" with "broad" and "fairly" with "markedly", emphasizing width or scope rather than overall size.

distinctly sizable

Replaces "large" with "sizable" and "fairly" with "distinctly", indicating a clearly noticeable size.

largish

This is a simpler, more informal synonym, using the suffix "-ish" to indicate approximation.

kind of big

An even more informal alternative, using "kind of" to express a moderate degree.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly large" to describe something that is bigger than average, but not extremely big. For example: "The company has a "fairly large" customer base."

What are some alternatives to "fairly large"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "moderately big", "reasonably sized", or "somewhat extensive".

Is it appropriate to use "fairly large" in formal writing?

Yes, "fairly large" is generally acceptable in formal writing, but consider whether a more precise term might be more suitable. For example, using "substantial" or "considerable" may add more weight to your description.

What's the difference between "fairly large" and "very large"?

"Fairly large" indicates something that is bigger than average but not exceptionally so, while "very large" implies a significantly greater size. Therefore, "very large" suggests a higher degree of magnitude than "fairly large".