fairly obvious

USAGE SUMMARY

"fairly obvious" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is evident or easy to understand. For example, "The consequences of not following the instructions were fairly obvious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fairly obvious choices.

The New York Times - Books

Some choices were fairly obvious.

The New Yorker

This all seems fairly obvious.

The New York Times - Books

The remedies are fairly obvious.

The Washington Post

That was always fairly obvious.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The signals were fairly obvious.

The New York Times

The answer is fairly obvious.

The Guardian

That's a fairly obvious example.

Harvard Business Review

The implications were fairly obvious.

The Guardian - Books

So much is fairly obvious.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is fairly obvious why.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly obvious" to acknowledge something is not groundbreaking or insightful, but still worth mentioning or considering. For example, "It's fairly obvious that investing in education yields long-term benefits."

Common error

Avoid using "fairly obvious" to introduce information that is already universally known or understood by your audience. This can make your writing seem condescending or unnecessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly obvious" functions as a qualifier, modifying an adjective to express a moderate degree of certainty or clarity. It suggests something is apparent without being entirely explicit. Examples from Ludwig show it introducing reasons, implications, and signals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fairly obvious" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something is reasonably apparent or easy to understand. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad applicability across various contexts, most frequently appearing in news and media. It serves to acknowledge a point without implying it is particularly insightful. When using "fairly obvious", avoid overstating the obvious and consider alternatives like "reasonably apparent" or "quite evident" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably apparent

Emphasizes a logical or justifiable level of clarity.

quite evident

Stresses a noticeable level of visibility or understanding.

readily apparent

Highlights the ease with which something can be seen or understood.

moderately clear

Indicates a level of clarity that is neither perfectly transparent nor completely obscure.

somewhat self-explanatory

Focuses on the inherent understandability of something, suggesting little additional explanation is needed.

fairly self-evident

Highlights that something is clear without needing proof or explanation.

rather plain

Indicates something is simple and easy to understand.

somewhat conspicuous

Highlights something that is noticeable and therefore obvious.

not particularly subtle

Emphasizes the lack of subtlety, making it easily noticeable.

kind of transparent

Indicates a situation or intention that is easy to see through.

FAQs

What does "fairly obvious" mean?

The phrase "fairly obvious" means something is reasonably easy to understand or perceive. It suggests the matter is not entirely explicit, but clear enough to be recognized without deep thought.

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

You can use "fairly obvious" to introduce a point that is relatively clear or apparent. For example, "It's "fairly obvious" that regular exercise contributes to better health."

What are some alternatives to "fairly obvious"?

You can use alternatives like "reasonably apparent", "quite evident", or "readily apparent" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "fairly obvious" and "very obvious"?

"Fairly obvious" suggests something is somewhat clear, while "very obvious" indicates something is extremely apparent. The former implies a lower degree of certainty compared to the latter.