fairly poor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'fairly poor' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express something that is lower than average in quality or worse than expected. For example: "The quality of the wine was fairly poor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fairly poor.

The New Yorker

I think that's fairly poor manners.

The Guardian - Sport

There were rundown rooming houses, a fairly poor population.

The New York Times

Dictation, for example, is still fairly poor on both systems.

The New York Times - Tech

These figures are fairly poor historically but not unprecedented.

The New York Times

Only for fairly poor gases a dead core may be observed.

Electrochimica Acta

In an early draft of the rule, the metrics were fairly poor and hard to measure.

The Washington Post

Furthermore, large companies have a fairly poor track record on incorporating new voices into senior management.

Harvard Business Review

I played what I thought was a fairly poor round, he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Mrs. Davies was born fairly poor, on a remote cattle ranch in Plumas County.

The New York Times - Arts

Yet despite the long boom, most Chinese citizens remain fairly poor.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fairly poor", consider the audience and context. In formal settings, you might opt for a more precise or nuanced term. In casual conversation, "fairly poor" is perfectly acceptable.

Common error

Avoid relying on "fairly poor" repeatedly in formal reports. While understood, it can sound vague. Instead, specify the exact deficiency or provide quantifiable data to support your assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly poor" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It expresses a subjective assessment of quality, indicating something is below average but not entirely deficient. Ludwig confirms its common usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Academia

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly poor" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English, as supported by Ludwig. It serves to express a negative assessment, indicating something is below average. While versatile, its usage should be tailored to the context, with more precise language favored in formal settings. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Science according to Ludwig's analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat inadequate

Indicates a slight deficiency, less intense than "fairly poor".

rather substandard

Emphasizes that something is below the required or expected level.

slightly deficient

Indicates a small degree of lacking or incompleteness.

moderately deficient

Suggests a limited amount of something is missing, highlighting the insufficiency.

decidedly mediocre

Focuses on the lack of distinction or exceptional quality.

noticeably insufficient

Emphasizes that the lack of something is easily observed.

relatively weak

Highlights a lack of strength or effectiveness compared to something else.

plainly inferior

States clearly that something is lower in quality or status.

marginally acceptable

Suggests something barely meets the minimum requirements.

somewhat disappointing

Highlights the failure to meet expectations to a limited extent.

FAQs

What does "fairly poor" mean?

The phrase "fairly poor" means something is less than satisfactory or of a low standard, but not extremely so. It indicates a moderate level of inadequacy.

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

You can use "fairly poor" to describe the quality of something. For instance, "The movie's plot was "fairly poor", but the acting was excellent."

What are some synonyms for "fairly poor"?

Alternatives to "fairly poor" include "somewhat inadequate", "rather substandard", or "decidedly mediocre" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "fairly poor" in a formal context?

While understandable, "fairly poor" might be too vague for formal writing. Consider using more specific terms like "relatively weak" or "noticeably insufficient" to enhance clarity and precision.