fairly true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly true" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used when discussing a statement or fact that is mostly accurate, but may have some minor inaccuracies or limitations. Some possible contexts for using this phrase include: - When summarizing someone else's argument or position: "He made some good points, but his argument is only fairly true." - When describing a statistic or data point: "The article's headline claims that unemployment is down, but the data is only fairly true - it doesn't account for part-time workers or those who have given up looking for work." - When expressing an opinion or belief: "I believe that statement is fairly true, but there are certainly exceptions." - When admitting to a mistake or error: "I'm sorry, I thought what I said was fairly true, but upon further research, I realized one key detail was incorrect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

That's probably fairly true to life.

The New York Times - Arts

It stung because at that point it was fairly true.

The Guardian - Books

JE I want to be fairly true to the real-life people, yeah.

The Guardian - Books

"The carpet is soft and rather spongy to the touch, but the football bounced well and fairly true on it".

The Guardian - Sport

"I feel like I've devoted a lot to music and been fairly true and responsible," she said.

The New York Times

(Daniel M. Gold) 'Monster' This adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" remains fairly true to the novel, though it comes across as heavy-handed in production (1 50).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

While the readings are usually fairly accurate, true values are influenced by possible offsets between the plane of incidence, physical axes of the elements, and the instrument scales.

Thin Solid Films

It fairly represents the true situation.

Harvard University

In other words, stock prices fairly reflected their true value most of the time.

The New York Times

The Jesus who appears in early Rembrandts is a fairly conventional figure, true to earlier northern European icon paintings.

The New York Times

They're not nasty, they're not saying 'don't have fun', they're just fairly keen on true democracy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fairly true", consider clarifying the specific aspects that are accurate and any limitations or exceptions that apply.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly true" when the statement is demonstrably false or misleading in significant ways. Choose a different phrase to reflect the actual degree of accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly true" functions as an adverb-adjective combination modifying a noun or clause. It indicates a qualified affirmation, suggesting that something is mostly accurate but not entirely so. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fairly true" serves as a useful tool for expressing a qualified affirmation, indicating that a statement is largely accurate but may have some limitations or exceptions. Ludwig AI affirms the grammatical correctness and common usage of the phrase. Analysis of various sources reveals its prevalence in news and media, science, and general online content, with notable occurrences in reputable publications like The New York Times and The Guardian. While "fairly true" is a versatile expression, it's important to be mindful of overstating accuracy and to clarify any specific limitations when using the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately accurate

Emphasizes the level of accuracy being only moderate, not absolute.

somewhat correct

Indicates a partial correctness, leaving room for some inaccuracies.

largely factual

Highlights the factual basis while allowing for minor deviations.

generally accurate

Focuses on the overall accuracy with the understanding of potential exceptions.

reasonably valid

Suggests the validity is justifiable but not necessarily definitive.

mostly right

A more informal way to express that something is correct for the most part.

kind of true

A colloquial way to express partial truth.

approximately correct

Highlights that the statement is close to the correct answer or state.

to a certain extent true

Expresses truth within specific limitations or conditions.

not entirely false

Focuses on the absence of complete falsehood, rather than the presence of complete truth.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly true" to describe something that's mostly accurate but not entirely so. For example, "The movie adaptation is "fairly true" to the book, though some details were changed."

What's a more formal alternative to "fairly true"?

More formal alternatives include "largely factual", "generally accurate", or "reasonably valid". These options are suitable for academic or professional contexts.

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

The choice depends on the context. "Very true" implies a high degree of accuracy, while ""fairly true"" suggests some limitations or exceptions. Use "fairly true" when you want to acknowledge that the statement isn't completely accurate.

Can "fairly true" be used to describe subjective opinions?

Yes, but be cautious. It's more appropriate for factual statements with some caveats. For opinions, consider phrases like "somewhat relatable" or "kind of agree" to express a qualified endorsement.