fairly slow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly slow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a moderate or somewhat slow pace or speed in various contexts. Example: "The internet connection was fairly slow, making it difficult to stream videos without buffering."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That model is fairly slow.

Stanford University

At the beginning, business was fairly slow.

The New York Times

The procedure is unusual and fairly slow to work.

The Guardian

"It's been fairly slow, I've got to say.

The Guardian

To control the motors, we need to generate a fairly slow PWM for the servo.

Cornell University

Economic growth in Brazil has been fairly slow for the past decade, especially since 2011.

University of California, Berkeley

This is a fairly slow and adaptive process that we call mid-term load balancing.

Future Generation Computer Systems

"It was not fast, in fact it was fairly slow," he said.

Independent

Meanwhile, income growth over the whole of Mr. Obama's term has still been fairly slow.

The New York Times

It took me a while to acknowledge this as it was a fairly slow change.

The Guardian

"As it's a fairly slow day at work, I've been following your MBM with interest.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or activity as "fairly slow", consider the audience and context to determine if a more precise term might be appropriate. While "fairly slow" is widely understood, specific measurements or comparisons can enhance clarity.

Common error

In technical or scientific writing, avoid relying solely on "fairly slow". Instead, provide quantitative data or more specific qualitative descriptions to convey the rate or pace accurately. For instance, specify the processing speed in milliseconds or compare it to industry benchmarks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly slow" functions as an adverbial modifier of an adjective. The adverb "fairly" modifies the adjective "slow", indicating a moderate degree of slowness. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fairly slow" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that is moderately slow. As Ludwig AI points out, it's used across various contexts, from news reports to academic papers, indicating its versatility. While it is widely understood, consider using more precise terms in technical or scientific contexts to enhance clarity. Alternatives like "moderately slow" or "somewhat slow" offer similar meanings, but may carry slightly different nuances. Overall, "fairly slow" is a reliable and effective phrase for expressing a moderate degree of slowness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately slow

Replaces "fairly" with "moderately", maintaining a similar level of intensity.

somewhat slow

Substitutes "fairly" with "somewhat", indicating a slight decrease in emphasis.

relatively slow

Uses "relatively" instead of "fairly", suggesting a comparison to something else.

rather slow

Employs "rather" in place of "fairly", adding a touch more emphasis.

kind of slow

Offers a more informal alternative using "kind of".

slightly slow

Indicates a minimal degree of slowness.

a bit slow

Provides a colloquial alternative using "a bit".

not very fast

Expresses the idea indirectly by negating speed.

leisurely paced

Describes the slowness in terms of pace and enjoyment.

gradual

Focuses on the slow and steady nature of the process.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly slow" to describe processes, speeds, or growth rates that are moderately slow. For example, "The download speed was fairly slow, making it difficult to stream the video".

What phrases are similar to "fairly slow"?

Alternatives include "moderately slow", "somewhat slow", or "relatively slow", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "fairly slow" grammatically correct?

Yes, "fairly slow" is grammatically correct. "Fairly" is an adverb that modifies the adjective "slow", indicating a moderate degree of slowness.

When is it best to use "fairly slow" versus a more precise measurement?

Use "fairly slow" when a general indication of slowness is sufficient. For technical or scientific contexts, providing specific measurements or comparisons is preferable for clarity and accuracy.