fairly serious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly serious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate something that is not too serious, but more than just a passing thought. For example, "We are taking this problem fairly seriously and are looking into it further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's a fairly serious business.

Independent

D.D.: Well, that's fairly serious.

The New Yorker

"He was fairly serious," Smart told me.

The New Yorker

The injury to Wright looked fairly serious.

The New York Times - Sports

Fresh red fruit and good persistence; a fairly serious Rosso.

The New York Times - Food

There are some fairly serious implications to this.

The New York Times

We want people to come with fairly serious intent.

The Guardian - Travel

We've only made two movies, and they both happened to be fairly serious.

The New York Times

"To get some senior law enforcement officials held accountable with fairly serious sentences — it's really historic".

The New York Times

She just went through a fairly serious illness in December that sidelined her for a month.

The New York Times

This is usually reserved for fairly serious cases but is worth exploring, Mr. Sell said.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly serious" to indicate a situation or problem that warrants attention and should not be dismissed, but is not necessarily life-threatening or catastrophic.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly serious" when describing trivial matters, as it can diminish the impact of the phrase when used in truly significant situations. Choose more appropriate descriptors for minor issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly serious" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate the degree or extent of seriousness. It is often used to describe situations, injuries, or problems that warrant attention but are not necessarily critical. The examples provided by Ludwig show the phrase being used across a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fairly serious" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase that indicates a moderate level of importance or severity. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across a wide range of contexts. It's particularly prevalent in News & Media sources. While it signals that a situation requires attention, it stops short of implying critical danger. When using this phrase, be mindful of overstating minor issues and consider alternative phrasings like "moderately grave" or "reasonably concerning" to fine-tune the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather significant

Highlights the importance or impact of something.

reasonably concerning

Suggests something is worth paying attention to, without being overly dramatic.

moderately grave

Indicates a serious situation, but perhaps not critically so; emphasizes the potential for negative consequences.

quite worrisome

Emphasizes the anxiety or unease associated with the situation.

somewhat alarming

Highlights the potential to cause worry or fear, focusing on the emotional response.

somewhat critical

It presents a slightly urgent perspective compared to "fairly serious".

genuinely significant

Highlights the real importance or impact of something, suggesting it shouldn't be ignored.

not negligible

Highlights the fact that is important and has to be seriously considered.

decidedly critical

Implies a turning point or crucial juncture, suggesting immediate attention is needed.

passably momentous

It suggests that something can change the actual situation.

FAQs

What does "fairly serious" mean?

The phrase "fairly serious" indicates that something is more than mildly concerning but not extremely critical. It suggests a moderate level of importance or severity.

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

You can use "fairly serious" to describe a situation, injury, or problem. For example, "The patient sustained a "fairly serious" injury in the accident" or "The company is facing "fairly serious" financial challenges".

Which is correct, "fairly serious" or "very serious"?

Both "fairly serious" and "very serious" are correct, but they denote different degrees of severity. "Very serious" indicates a higher level of concern than "fairly serious".

What are some alternatives to "fairly serious"?

Alternatives to "fairly serious" include "quite serious", "moderately grave", or "reasonably concerning", depending on the specific context and the desired nuance.