fairly often

USAGE SUMMARY

'fairly often' is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that happens not too often but not infrequently either. For example, "I go to the gym fairly often."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The story changes fairly often.

The New Yorker

This happens fairly often with her.

The New York Times

I go fairly often still.

The Guardian - Arts

I rate nine fairly often.

The New Yorker

Earthquake swarms happen fairly often in Yellowstone.

The New York Times

We argued about that fairly often.

The New York Times

We used to eat there fairly often.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, bad things happen fairly often.

Harvard Business Review

Plus, they both say "ho" fairly often.

The New Yorker

I talk to him fairly often.

The Guardian - Books

It still crops up fairly often.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly often" when you want to indicate something occurs more than occasionally but not as a routine. It strikes a balance between rare and frequent occurrences.

Common error

In formal academic or professional writing, consider more precise alternatives to "fairly often". Phrases like "frequently", "regularly", or "periodically" can offer a more sophisticated and specific tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly often" functions as an adverbial of frequency, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate how frequently an action occurs. As Ludwig AI shows, it's versatile enough to fit a variety of sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly often" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to express moderate frequency. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It strikes a balance between rare and frequent occurrences. While versatile, consider context-appropriate synonyms like "quite frequently" or "somewhat regularly" for greater precision, especially in formal writing. The phrase sees frequent usage in news and media, academic writing, and scientific publications. Remember to use "fairly often" when you want to communicate that something happens more than occasionally but not routinely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Quite frequently

Emphasizes a slightly higher degree of frequency than "fairly often".

Somewhat regularly

Highlights the regularity or routine aspect more explicitly.

Reasonably frequently

Similar in meaning, but may suggest a more expected or justifiable frequency.

With some frequency

Emphasizes the presence of frequency, though not necessarily high frequency.

On several occasions

Focuses on the number of times something happens rather than the rate.

Not infrequently

A more formal way of saying "fairly often", using a double negative.

On multiple instances

Highlights that something has occurred more than once, focusing on the events themselves.

From time to time

Implies a less predictable or structured frequency.

Every so often

Similar to "from time to time", suggesting irregular intervals.

At times

Indicates that something happens occasionally, without specifying frequency.

FAQs

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

"Fairly often" is used to describe the frequency of an action or event. For example, "I visit my family "fairly often"", indicating that visits occur regularly but not constantly.

What are some alternatives to "fairly often"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "quite frequently", "somewhat regularly", or "from time to time" instead of "fairly often".

Is it better to say "fairly often" or "quite often"?

Both "fairly often" and "quite often" are acceptable, but "quite often" suggests a slightly higher degree of frequency than "fairly often". Choose the one that best reflects the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "fairly often" and "occasionally"?

"Fairly often" implies more regularity than "occasionally". If something happens "fairly often", it occurs with some consistent frequency. "Occasionally" suggests it happens sporadically or infrequently.