fairly steady

USAGE SUMMARY

"fairly steady" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means something is relatively or moderately stable or consistent. Example: The economy has been fairly steady over the past year, with only slight fluctuations in employment levels.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now life is fairly steady.

The New York Times - Magazine

Even the price has remained fairly steady.

The New York Times

The stock markets held fairly steady.

The New York Times

Most electricity rates have remained fairly steady.

The New York Times

Projected electricity sector emissions hold fairly steady without the CPP.

University of California, Berkeley

Over all, cable news business ratings are holding fairly steady.

The New York Times

It's been a fairly steady stream of [awfulness].

The New York Times

Snuffbox demand has held fairly steady ever since.

The New York Times - Arts

The following figure shows this hour-long segment as a fairly steady trend.

Princeton University

The women were not trying to lose weight, and their weights remained fairly steady.

The New York Times

Plaque buildup increased according to age after age 40 in a fairly steady fashion.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends, use "fairly steady" to indicate a moderate level of consistency without implying complete immutability. For example, "While sales fluctuated slightly, the overall trend remained fairly steady."

Common error

Avoid using "fairly steady" when describing situations with significant fluctuations. The phrase suggests a level of stability that isn't present, which can mislead your audience. Instead, opt for phrases like "variable" or "fluctuating" to accurately depict instability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly steady" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the degree to which something is stable or consistent. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates a moderate level of stability. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing trends, prices, and other quantifiable aspects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

20%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly steady" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that is moderately stable or consistent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Academia, and Science. While it implies a level of consistency, it does not suggest absolute immutability. When using this phrase, avoid overstating the stability of a situation and be mindful of the context to ensure accurate communication. Alternatives such as ""relatively stable"" or ""moderately consistent"" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively stable

Replaces "steady" with "stable" and "fairly" with "relatively", maintaining the sense of moderate stability.

moderately consistent

Substitutes "steady" with "consistent" and "fairly" with "moderately", emphasizing consistency rather than stability.

reasonably stable

Uses "reasonably" instead of "fairly", suggesting an acceptable level of stability.

somewhat constant

Replaces "steady" with "constant" and "fairly" with "somewhat", indicating a degree of constancy.

largely unchanged

Shifts the focus to a lack of change, implying a steady state.

generally consistent

Similar to "moderately consistent", but with a broader scope.

noticeably stable

Indicates that the stability is easily observed.

appreciably constant

Suggests that the constancy is significant or worthwhile.

markedly consistent

Emphasizes that consistency is easily observed.

relatively uniform

Implies a consistent appearance or characteristic.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly steady" to describe something that remains relatively stable or consistent over time. For instance, "Despite market volatility, their profits remained fairly steady."

What phrases are similar to "fairly steady"?

Alternatives to "fairly steady" include "relatively stable", "moderately consistent", or "somewhat constant", depending on the specific context.

Is "fairly steady" grammatically correct?

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

What's the difference between "fairly steady" and "completely steady"?

"Fairly steady" implies some minor fluctuations or variations, while "completely steady" suggests absolute consistency without any change. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the degree of stability you want to convey.