fairly little

USAGE SUMMARY

'fairly little' is a grammatically and syntactically correct part of a sentence in written English.
The phrase can be used to indicate a lesser degree or amount of something in comparison to something else. For example, "I have fairly little experience working with PR."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fairly little ecological information is available for this small hummingbird.

Cornell University

On climate change, the survey shows fairly little debate.

The Washington Post

Fairly little is known regarding the behavior of these humid montane forest inhabitants.

Cornell University

So the Chinese government has said fairly little of late about its huge holdings of Treasuries.

The New York Times

To some people, Iraq matters more than anything else; but to most, it matters fairly little.

The Economist

Until last week, the Dalai Lama had fairly little in common with Justin Bieber.

The New Yorker

The legitimacy of an international order, he wrote, has fairly little to do with justice.

The New Yorker

The tire recall appears to have had fairly little effect on sales of sport utility vehicles.

The New York Times

Although the foundation's contribution to global health generally receives acclaim, fairly little is known about its grant-making programme.

The Lancet

Despite what the title would suggest, Clay says his job dealt fairly little with engineering and mostly with middle management.

Princeton University

In the case of 20 photographs (as you presented) this is a relatively simple task, involving fairly little time.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly little" to convey a sense of understatement or mild reduction. It softens the impact compared to saying "very little".

Common error

Avoid using "fairly little" excessively in formal writing. While grammatically correct, alternatives like "relatively small" or "moderately limited" may be more suitable for conveying a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly little" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It quantifies the noun by indicating a moderate deficiency or small amount, as confirmed by Ludwig and the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Academia

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly little" is a grammatically correct and common phrase used to indicate a moderate degree of smallness or deficiency. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It functions as an adjectival phrase, typically used to quantify nouns in a neutral register. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse in highly formal contexts, opting for alternatives like "relatively small" when a more professional tone is desired. The phrase is frequently found in News & Media, Science and Academia. Remember that "fairly little" implies a lesser degree than "very little", offering a subtle nuance in expressing quantity or extent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively small amount

Emphasizes the amount is small in comparison to something else.

rather limited

Indicates a restriction or boundary on the amount or extent.

comparatively slight

Draws a comparison, suggesting it's small relative to something else.

moderately insignificant

Highlights the lack of importance or consequence.

somewhat negligible

Focuses on the unimportance or insignificance of something.

reasonably unsubstantial

Highlights the lack of material or factual basis.

noticeably deficient

Emphasizes the lack or shortage of something.

markedly reduced

Indicates a clear and obvious decrease in quantity or degree.

appreciably less

Suggests that the amount is smaller to a noticeable degree.

minimally sufficient

Implies just barely enough, with not much extra.

FAQs

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

"Fairly little" is used to describe a quantity or degree that is somewhat small. For example, "There is fairly little evidence to support that claim."

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

"Fairly little" implies a smaller degree than "very little". "Very little" suggests a minimal amount, while "fairly little" suggests somewhat less than expected.

What can I say instead of "fairly little"?

You can use alternatives like "relatively small amount", "somewhat negligible", or "rather limited" depending on the context.

Is "fairly little" grammatically correct?

Yes, "fairly little" is grammatically correct and frequently used in both spoken and written English.