fairly smoothly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly smoothly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process or action that is completed with a moderate level of ease or without significant difficulties. Example: "The project progressed fairly smoothly, with only a few minor setbacks along the way."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This one fell fairly smoothly.

The New York Times

From that point forward, our joint tenancy went fairly smoothly.

The New York Times

But after getting over that hump, solving went fairly smoothly.

The New York Times

It went fairly smoothly from a communications standpoint.

The New York Times - Sports

Following a policy of appeasement, his dealings with foreigners started fairly smoothly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For Mr. Gibbons, the transition from the Moving Sidewalks to ZZ Top occurred fairly smoothly.

The New York Times

"The voting day went fairly smoothly by Pakistani standards," said Mr. Almeida, the Dawn columnist.

The New York Times

The New York City subway was running fairly smoothly on Saturday morning.

The New York Times

In Sarasota County, Kathy Dent, supervisor of elections, said Election Day went fairly smoothly.

The New York Times

Things, meanwhile, have been going fairly smoothly this summer for Mr. Bush.

The New York Times

Wright remained at home for a day, battling headaches, but recovered fairly smoothly and quickly.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for international audiences, consider that the nuance of "fairly smoothly" might be lost in translation. In such cases, consider using a more direct synonym for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly smoothly" when the process was exceptionally easy or effortless. Using it in such contexts may downplay the actual achievement and create a false impression of challenges where none existed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly smoothly" functions as an adverbial modifier, typically describing the manner in which an action or process is performed. It indicates that something proceeded without major problems, yet wasn't perfectly seamless. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is considered correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fairly smoothly" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to describe a process or action that proceeds with a reasonable degree of ease and success, though possibly not perfectly. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with considerable usage in science and encyclopedias, indicating its suitability for neutral and professional communication. When using this phrase, remember that it conveys a sense of balanced ease, acknowledging potential minor challenges without overstating them. Remember that alternatives such as "relatively smoothly" and "reasonably smoothly" may be more appropriate depending on context. The phrase is considered very common based on the number of examples found.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively smoothly

Replaces "fairly" with "relatively", keeping the meaning almost identical.

quite smoothly

Substitutes "fairly" with "quite", suggesting a slightly higher degree of smoothness.

reasonably smoothly

Uses "reasonably" instead of "fairly", implying a satisfactory level of smoothness.

without significant issues

Expresses the idea by focusing on the absence of major problems.

with moderate ease

Highlights the ease of the process, using "moderate" to describe the level.

with relative ease

Similar to "with moderate ease", but uses "relative" to emphasize the comparison.

in a seamless manner

Implies a smooth and continuous progression, without interruptions.

without major setbacks

Focuses on the lack of significant obstacles during the process.

with few complications

Indicates that the process had only a small number of problems.

with little difficulty

Emphasizes the lack of hardship or struggle in completing the action.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly smoothly" to describe how a process, operation, or transition occurred. For example, "The merger went "fairly smoothly", despite some initial concerns."

What's the difference between "fairly smoothly" and "very smoothly"?

"Fairly smoothly" suggests that while the process was generally successful, there may have been minor issues or adjustments. "Very smoothly" implies an almost effortless and seamless process without notable problems.

What are some alternatives to saying "fairly smoothly"?

Alternatives include "relatively smoothly", "reasonably smoothly", or "without significant issues", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "fairly smoothly" in formal writing?

Yes, "fairly smoothly" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a neutral expression that is acceptable in news reporting, business communications, and academic papers.