fairly long

USAGE SUMMARY

"fairly long" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is moderately lengthy or extended in duration. For example, "Our hike today was fairly long, taking us nearly three hours to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It was fairly long [selection] meeting when talking about a player of his class and experience.

The Guardian - Sport

Some deals work out quickly, others over fairly long stretches.

Forbes

That's a fairly long list.

The New York Times

Fairly long article.

The New Yorker

You'll see some fairly long takes.

Independent

"It's been a fairly long road.

The New Yorker

He was told the wait would be fairly long.

The New York Times

RH: Is it a fairly long way away, then?

The Guardian - Music

That process is likely to be a fairly long one.

The Guardian

That will not fundamentally change for a fairly long time.

The Guardian

Until finally they have a fairly long canon..

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid ambiguity, pair "fairly long" with a specific unit of measurement (time, distance, etc.) whenever possible. For example, "a fairly long meeting" could be clarified as "a fairly long, three-hour meeting".

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "fairly long" without providing more context. This can leave the reader guessing about the actual duration or length. Instead, supplement it with specific details or comparisons to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly long" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, describing the extent or duration of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it adds detail and provides context to the noun it modifies. For example, "a fairly long road" or "fairly long time".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Wiki

22%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly long" is a commonly used adjectival phrase that serves to describe something of moderate length or duration. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and widely accepted. While versatile, its neutral register implies it benefits from further specification to prevent vagueness. Common contexts are found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science, but formal usage may necessitate more precise alternatives such as "moderately extended". Therefore, to make sure your usage is concise, remember to give more context or consider adding a more accurate word for the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather long

Uses 'rather' instead of 'fairly', indicating a slightly higher degree of length.

quite long

Employs 'quite' as a substitute for 'fairly', suggesting a similar level of length.

sufficiently long

Replaces 'fairly' with 'sufficiently', focusing on adequacy of length.

reasonably long

Replaces 'fairly' with 'reasonably', implying a length that meets expectations.

somewhat long

Uses 'somewhat' instead of 'fairly', indicating a slightly lesser degree of length.

long enough

Focuses on the adequacy of the length, rather than its relative extent.

moderately long

Substitutes 'fairly' with 'moderately', providing a more formal tone.

pretty long

Replaces 'fairly' with 'pretty', making the phrase more informal.

relatively long

Substitutes 'fairly' with 'relatively', emphasizing the length in comparison to something else.

considerably long

Uses 'considerably' instead of 'fairly', indicating a significantly higher degree of length.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly long" to describe the duration of an event, the length of an object, or the extent of a process. For example, "The movie was a "fairly long" one, lasting over three hours" or "It's been a "fairly long" road".

What are some alternatives to "fairly long"?

Alternatives to "fairly long" include "rather long", "quite long", "moderately long", or "sufficiently long", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "fairly long" a formal or informal expression?

"Fairly long" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, you might opt for a more precise or sophisticated alternative, such as "moderately extended".

How does "fairly long" compare to "very long"?

"Fairly long" implies a moderate extent or duration, while "very long" suggests a significantly greater extent. "Fairly" indicates something is somewhat extended, whereas "very" indicates a considerable degree of length.