fairly short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly short" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not long in duration or length, but is still longer than very short. Example: "The meeting was fairly short, lasting only about 30 minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Compared to its predecessor, the 6th Congress was fairly short.

Wikipedia

Taxi line fairly short.

The New Yorker

Because these are fairly short.

Cornell University

Ms. Martin kept her remarks fairly short.

The New York Times

And keep your lists fairly short.

The New York Times

It was thus a fairly short shower.

The New York Times - Arts

And his is fairly short experience.

The New York Times

But it falls fairly short of exhilarating.

The Guardian - Arts

This time it was fairly short".

The New York Times

The window for legislative action is fairly short.

The Economist

Its bill is fairly short and slightly curved.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fairly short" to describe time, consider whether "relatively brief" might be more precise. For example, "The meeting was fairly short" could be rephrased as "The meeting was relatively brief, lasting only 30 minutes."

Common error

In academic or professional contexts, avoid overuse of "fairly short". Opt for more formal alternatives like "concise", "abridged", or "brief" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly short" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun to indicate a moderate degree of shortness. Ludwig AI examples illustrate this across diverse contexts, ranging from describing the length of a shower to the duration of a political congress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly short" is a versatile phrase used to describe something that is moderately short in length or duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used across diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific literature. While generally neutral in tone, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives in academic or professional settings. The phrase effectively conveys a moderate degree of shortness, distinguishing it from extremes while maintaining clarity. The availability of numerous examples and related phrases highlights its common usage and adaptability in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sufficiently short

This alternative emphasizes adequacy in shortness, implying it meets a specific requirement.

reasonably short

This alternative suggests a degree of shortness that is considered acceptable or appropriate in a given context.

quite short

This option implies a noticeable degree of shortness, though not necessarily extreme.

pretty short

Similar to 'quite short', this indicates a degree of shortness that is easily perceived.

relatively brief

This highlights shortness in comparison to something else, implying a contrast in duration or length.

somewhat short

This indicates a mild degree of shortness, suggesting it's noticeable but not extreme.

moderately short

Similar to 'somewhat short', this indicates a middle-ground degree of shortness.

comparatively short

This emphasizes shortness when compared to a particular benchmark or average.

noticeably short

This emphasizes the perceptible nature of the shortness, suggesting it's easily observed.

not particularly long

This phrase uses a negative construction to convey shortness, emphasizing the absence of considerable length.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly short" to describe something that is not very long in duration or length. For example, "The movie was "fairly short", only 90 minutes long" or "Her hair is "fairly short", just above her shoulders".

What can I say instead of "fairly short"?

You can use alternatives like "reasonably short", "relatively brief", or "moderately short", depending on the context.

Is "fairly short" formal or informal?

"Fairly short" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional writing.

Which is correct, "fairly short" or "pretty short"?

Both "fairly short" and "pretty short" are correct and have similar meanings, but "fairly short" might be considered slightly more formal.