fairly specific

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly specific" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is not extremely specific, but still more specific than a general term. For example: "I'm looking for a fairly specific kind of book about 19th century English history."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They proved to be reasonably potent and fairly specific, with potency to specificity ratios of 7.98 and 6.42, respectively.

BMC Veterinary Research

Nevertheless, the presence of hygroma in one or more animals in a herd appeared to be a fairly specific predictor of herd seropositivity, with estimated specificity of 98.4%.

BMC Veterinary Research

It seemed to me that the Gospels, central to my family life, made some fairly specific promises and laid on us some fairly specific obligations; yet that specificity could simply go on holiday whenever God himself seemed to have gone on holiday.

The New Yorker

"Our regulations are fairly specific.

The New York Times

The policy at General Electric is also fairly specific.

The New York Times

He produced no plan, only fairly specific directives.

The New York Times

Like all carnivorous plants, pitchers have fairly specific requirements.

The New York Times

The cumene hydroperoxide reaction is fairly specific to phenol itself.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I think we have some fairly specific information that Al Qaeda wants to come after us".

The New York Times

"But if you did polling on it, you'd find a fairly specific short-term gain.

The New York Times

Audiences go to the movies hoping to be serviced -- amused or thrilled or scared -- in fairly specific, familiar ways.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly specific" to indicate a level of detail that is greater than general but less than highly detailed. For example, instead of saying "the instructions were detailed", you could say "the instructions were fairly specific", which communicates a more nuanced level of detail.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly specific" when the situation requires complete precision or absolute clarity. If the context demands utmost detail, opt for terms like "highly detailed" or "completely defined" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly specific" functions as an intensifier combined with an adjective. It modifies the adjective 'specific' to indicate a moderate degree of specificity. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fairly specific" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a moderate level of detail or precision. Ludwig AI indicates that it enjoys widespread usage across various domains, including news, science, and general writing. While alternatives like "reasonably detailed" or "moderately precise" exist, "fairly specific" offers a balance between clarity and nuance, making it a versatile choice for describing information that is more detailed than general, but not exceptionally so. Remember to use it when you want to avoid overstating the specificity and ensure your language aligns with the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably detailed

Emphasizes the level of detail provided, suggesting a moderate amount of information.

moderately precise

Highlights the accuracy and exactness, indicating a mid-range level of precision.

somewhat exact

Implies a degree of accuracy that is not absolute but more than approximate.

quite particular

Focuses on the distinctness and individual nature of something, suggesting a notable level of specification.

relatively defined

Stresses the clarity and distinctness of the boundaries or characteristics.

comparatively clear

Indicates a level of clarity that is noticeable when compared to something else.

fairly narrow

Suggests the scope or range is limited, but not extremely so.

reasonably circumscribed

Highlights the limited and well-defined nature of something.

moderately well-defined

Indicates the clarity is present to a degree that is neither vague nor perfectly sharp.

somewhat explicit

Suggests the expression is reasonably outright without any vagueness.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly specific" to describe something that is more detailed than general, but not extremely precise. For example, "The doctor gave me fairly specific instructions for my medication."

What are some alternatives to saying "fairly specific"?

Alternatives include "reasonably detailed", "moderately precise", or "somewhat exact", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "fairly specific" or "very specific"?

The choice depends on the degree of detail you want to convey. "Very specific" implies a high level of detail, while "fairly specific" suggests a moderate level of detail.

What's the difference between "fairly specific" and "somewhat specific"?

"Fairly specific" and "somewhat specific" are quite similar, but "fairly specific" suggests a slightly higher degree of detail compared to "somewhat specific".