fairly rare

USAGE SUMMARY

'fairly rare' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to communicate that something is rare but not extremely rare. For example: "This type of car is fairly rare, so I was lucky to find one for sale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Microcephaly is fairly rare.

Columbia University

Examples like these are fairly rare, though.

The Economist

Racially motivated bloodshed is fairly rare.

The Economist

This is a fairly rare event.

Cornell University

Collisions between large objects are fairly rare.

University of California, Berkeley

But such accounts are fairly rare.

The New York Times

It's fairly rare at this point.

The New York Times

Actually, big bands are becoming fairly rare.

The New York Times

Sometimes he overreaches himself, but these moments are fairly rare.

The Guardian - Books

"It's a fairly rare amenity," Mr. Miller said.

The New York Times

Mr. Barrall added that such occurrences would be "fairly rare".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing statistical data or occurrences, "fairly rare" can effectively communicate a moderate level of infrequency without implying extreme rarity.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly rare" when describing something that is exceedingly uncommon or almost nonexistent. In such cases, opt for phrases like "extremely rare" or "virtually nonexistent" to more accurately reflect the true degree of infrequency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly rare" functions as an adverbial modifier that qualifies the adjective "rare". It attenuates the degree of rarity, indicating something is uncommon but not exceptionally so. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

22%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fairly rare" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe something that is uncommon but not exceedingly so. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is appropriate for various contexts and offers a nuanced way to communicate infrequency. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic sources, "fairly rare" serves to provide a balanced assessment of rarity, avoiding overstatement. For alternatives, consider "moderately uncommon" or "somewhat infrequent" to convey similar degrees of infrequency. Remember to avoid using "fairly rare" when describing something exceptionally scarce, as this could misrepresent the true degree of rarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not particularly common

A more explicit way of stating that something is not frequently encountered.

Passably uncommon

Similar to "fairly rare", but it might imply slightly less rarity or a higher chance of encountering the subject.

Moderately uncommon

Emphasizes that something is not very common, suggesting a slightly higher frequency than "fairly rare".

Somewhat infrequent

Highlights the irregularity of occurrence, focusing on the lack of frequency.

Reasonably unusual

Emphasizes something deviates from the norm in a predictable way.

Relatively scarce

Indicates a limited availability or supply, rather than just a lack of occurrence.

Infrequently observed

Suggests that something is rarely seen or noticed, often in a scientific or observational context.

Tolerably sparse

Highlights something spaced apart or thinly distributed that implies lower density.

Unusual to some extent

Focuses on the deviation from the norm, implying a degree of rarity.

Slightly exceptional

Highlights the departure from the ordinary, emphasizing the unique nature of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly rare" to describe something that occurs infrequently but isn't exceptionally unusual. For example, "Snowfall in May is "fairly rare" but not unheard of."

What phrases are similar to "fairly rare"?

Alternatives to "fairly rare" include "moderately uncommon", "somewhat infrequent", or "relatively scarce", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "quite rare" instead of "fairly rare"?

Yes, "quite rare" is a similar and often interchangeable alternative to "fairly rare". Both indicate that something is uncommon but not extremely so.

What is the difference between "fairly rare" and "very rare"?

"Fairly rare" indicates something is uncommon to a moderate degree, while "very rare" implies a significantly higher degree of infrequency, suggesting the occurrence is highly exceptional.