fairly unlikely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly unlikely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a moderate level of doubt or skepticism about the likelihood of an event occurring. Example: "Given the current circumstances, it seems fairly unlikely that the event will take place as scheduled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

That seems fairly unlikely.

Columbia University

Again, I think this fairly unlikely.

The Washington Post

That made the diagnosis fairly unlikely, the resident said.

The New York Times

It seems fairly unlikely they'll be shown to be as harmful as tobacco.

Independent

On the one hand, a half-point is fairly unlikely to decide an election.

The New York Times

However, it is considered still fairly unlikely that he would reach the death chamber.

The Guardian

It is fairly unlikely another ex-mining MPs will ever be elected.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It is fairly unlikely that Bin Laden would be sharing operational details with his wives.

The Guardian

"I would say it's fairly unlikely, but the world is full of surprises," Wilmut said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

And they are used to imagining some fairly unlikely things, such as Harry and Draco getting together, or Ron and Harry – they called that "Rorry".

The Guardian - Books

I'm trying to picture a 16-year-old girl talking President Obama into this sort of thing...fairly unlikely.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly unlikely" when you want to express a moderate degree of doubt or skepticism without being overly negative or dismissive. For example, "It's fairly unlikely that the project will be completed on time, given the current delays."

Common error

Avoid using "fairly unlikely" when the situation warrants a stronger expression of impossibility. For instance, if there's overwhelming evidence against an event occurring, phrases like "highly improbable" or "virtually impossible" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly unlikely" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the degree to which an event or outcome is not probable. Ludwig AI confirms the correct and usable nature of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

21%

Academia

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly unlikely" is a versatile phrase used to express a moderate degree of doubt or skepticism. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely applicable across various contexts. While sources from News & Media are dominant, it also appears in scientific and academic writing. When you want to temper your expression of improbability, "fairly unlikely" offers a balanced and appropriate tone. Be sure to consider alternatives like "somewhat improbable" or "rather doubtful" to tailor your language precisely to the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat improbable

Replaces "unlikely" with "improbable", slightly increasing the level of formality.

rather doubtful

Substitutes "unlikely" with "doubtful", shifting the focus to uncertainty.

moderately improbable

Similar to "somewhat improbable" but with slightly stronger emphasis.

not very probable

Uses a negative construction to express a similar level of improbability.

quite improbable

Emphasizes improbability more strongly than "fairly unlikely".

hardly likely

Emphasizes the improbability with a stronger tone.

scarcely possible

Shifts the focus from likelihood to possibility.

remains to be seen

Indicates that the outcome is uncertain, implying it may be unlikely.

debatable if it will happen

Introduces explicit doubt regarding a future event.

open to question

Implies uncertainty and suggests a degree of improbability.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly unlikely" to express a moderate level of doubt or skepticism. For example: "Given the circumstances, it's "fairly unlikely" that we'll meet our goals this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "fairly unlikely"?

Some alternatives to "fairly unlikely" include "somewhat improbable", "rather doubtful", or "moderately improbable" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

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

The choice between "fairly unlikely" and "very unlikely" depends on the degree of improbability you want to convey. "Fairly unlikely" suggests a moderate level of doubt, while "very unlikely" indicates a higher degree of improbability.

What's the difference between "fairly unlikely" and "not likely"?

"Fairly unlikely" suggests a slightly stronger degree of improbability than "not likely". While both express doubt, "fairly unlikely" implies that the event is improbable based on current information or circumstances, while "not likely" is more neutral.