fairly the same as

USAGE SUMMARY

"fairly the same as" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to express similarity between two or more things, or to convey that two or more things are not exactly the same but fairly similar. For example, "The painting was fairly the same as the one I saw at the museum."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Solving our criterion (11), guaranteeing a uniformly asymptotic stability, allows an upper bound σ = 10 25, which is fairly the same as found in other existing work [7, 8].

Advances in Difference Equations

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The reasoning behind the offside rule remains fairly much the same as when it was introduced, namely, it is aimed at preventing an attacking player from waiting for the ball close to the goal.

WikiHow

In general, the findings show that longer duration provides fairly the same performance as short duration.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

This is fairly standard, and basically the same as it has been for some time.

TechCrunch

But it seems to me that trying to protect a fairly remarkable streak is hardly the same as trying to pointlessly steal a base with a 9-0 leandand that the Rays, and their astute manager, Joe Maddon, might have understood what Collins was trying to do and not taken offense.

The New York Times

"The infrastructure is fairly the same," he said.

The New York Times

Ms. Howard had what she described as a "fairly uneventful dream" — in black and white, the same as always.

The New York Times - Arts

Francois Hollande is not on the same level as girls who have been kidnapped into sexual slavery, and having the same "no-holds-barred" attitude toward them both is not the same as treating them fairly.

HuffPost

Up until fairly recently, it was possible — which, of course, is not the same as advisable — to see climate change as a phenomenon that was happening somewhere else.

The New Yorker

At most comprehensive universities, students can receive a degree in dance performance, piano performance, etc. Make it the same as the art-performance programs, which are fairly rigorous.

The New York Times - Magazine

A fairly good album though, I agve it 7.1/10, which is around the same as I gave 'Aphrodite' (7.8/10).

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, ensure both elements being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly the same as" when describing items that are significantly different. Overstating similarity can mislead your audience. Use more appropriate language when describing such items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly the same as" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, indicating a degree of similarity that is less than identical but more than merely alike. It modifies a noun or pronoun to express that two entities share significant characteristics. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

39%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fairly the same as" is a useful tool for expressing similarity while acknowledging minor differences. It's grammatically correct and commonly found across diverse sources. While it may not be appropriate in extremely formal writing where precision is paramount, it is a valuable phrase in many contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English to indicate that two or more things are not exactly the same but fairly similar. When using this phrase, be mindful of potentially overstating the level of similarity and ensure that both items being compared are clearly defined. Consider alternatives like "essentially the same as" or "substantially similar to" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essentially the same as

Highlights that any differences are insignificant and do not change the fundamental nature.

practically identical to

Suggests a very high degree of similarity, bordering on being the same.

virtually indistinguishable from

Implies that it's difficult to tell the difference between the two.

substantially similar to

Emphasizes a significant degree of similarity, often implying only minor differences.

largely equivalent to

Indicates a high degree of functional or practical equivalence, even if not identical.

broadly comparable to

Suggests that the two things can be compared and have many similarities, though perhaps not in all details.

much like

A simpler, more informal way to indicate similarity.

closely resembles

Focuses on visual or superficial similarity.

not unlike

A more subtle way of pointing out similarities.

on par with

Indicates that something is of equal quality or standard.

FAQs

How can I use "fairly the same as" in a sentence?

The phrase "fairly the same as" indicates similarity without complete equivalence. For example, "The new model is "fairly the same as" the old one, but with minor improvements."

What's a good alternative to "fairly the same as"?

Alternatives include "essentially the same as", "substantially similar to", or "broadly comparable to", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "fairly the same as" in formal writing?

While acceptable, "fairly the same as" is less precise than alternatives like "largely equivalent to" or "practically identical to", which might be more suitable for formal contexts.

What's the difference between "fairly the same as" and "exactly the same as"?

"Fairly the same as" implies that there are some minor differences, while "exactly the same as" suggests complete identity. Using "fairly" softens the claim of similarity.