fairly usual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly usual" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat common or typical, but not extremely so. Example: "It's fairly usual for the weather to change unexpectedly in this region during the spring."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

She said: "My initial reaction was to treat it as fairly usual: I get really abusive messages all the time.

The Guardian - Tech

Associated lymphadenopathy elsewhere in the abdomen is also fairly usual.

Insights into Imaging

It was a fairly usual announcement for HP.

TechCrunch

J: What senior members of the Royal Military Police will always come up with as a defence when they get criticised is that they lack resources and that's the fairly usual standard response.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

While patriotism of the more usual, worldly kind is neither morally required nor virtuous, but at best morally permitted, ethical patriotism can, under certain fairly common circumstances, be a moral duty (Primoratz 2006).

SEP

The menu is fairly short, by the usual Thai-restaurant standards, and is supplemented by a few specials on a board.

The New York Times

These substances, it hardly needs to be repeated, are lucrative to smuggle and addictive to their consumers, so it is no great surprise that the trade in them will be fairly resistant to the usual strictures of law and order.

Independent

The idea is fairly compelling, though as usual, you'll be hard-pressed to find any mention of Slide or Google anywhere on the site.

TechCrunch

Efficacy variations depend on the underlying disease: Sarcoidosis and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) render fairly good results, whereas usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), pneumoconiosis, respiratory bronchiolitis associated interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD), non specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and pulmonary histiocytosis X show poor results [ 1, 4, 10, 12, 13].

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

3.41am GMT 51st over: England 113-8 (Borthwick 1 Broad 1) Broad gets the usual boos - fairly half-hearted by now - the usual bumper, and an unusual run.

The Guardian - Sport

The wines that were available presented a mixed bag from the region, at a fairly high price despite our usual $100-a-bottle 100-a-bottle 100-a-bottle limit

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fairly usual" to describe situations or occurrences that are common but not necessarily universally experienced. This phrasing adds a nuanced perspective, acknowledging that exceptions may exist.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly usual" when describing truly rare or exceptional events. The phrase implies a noticeable degree of frequency, so using it inappropriately can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly usual" functions as an adverbial modifier that qualifies an adjective. It is used to describe something as being somewhat common or typical. Ludwig's examples show it qualifying occurrences, announcements and responses.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

33%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly usual" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that indicates something is moderately typical or common. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase appears across various contexts, but is particularly prevalent in news and scientific media. It is best employed when describing occurrences that are neither rare nor universally experienced, as Ludwig confirms that it describes occurrences, announcements and responses. When using it, be careful not to overstate the commonality and remember that alternatives like "quite typical" or "reasonably common" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context. Overall, it is "fairly usual" to encounter this phrase in everyday language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite typical

Emphasizes typicality more directly, whereas "fairly usual" suggests a slightly lower degree of commonness.

reasonably common

Highlights the common occurrence of something, similar to "fairly usual" but with a focus on frequency.

fairly commonplace

Emphasizes the common occurrence and widespread presence of something.

largely typical

Suggests that something is typical in most aspects or to a great extent.

somewhat standard

Indicates that something adheres to a standard or norm, with "somewhat" softening the assertion.

moderately typical

Similar to "fairly usual", but places more emphasis on the moderate level of typicality.

pretty standard

Similar to 'somewhat standard', but suggests slightly higher conformity to a norm.

relatively ordinary

Focuses on the lack of exceptional qualities, suggesting something is commonplace.

generally expected

Focuses on the anticipation or expectation of something, emphasizing its predictable nature.

kind of normal

A more informal way to describe something as being within the range of what is considered normal.

FAQs

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

You can use "fairly usual" to describe something that happens regularly but isn't always guaranteed, such as "It's "fairly usual" for rain in the spring."

What are some alternatives to "fairly usual"?

Alternatives include "quite typical", "reasonably common", or "somewhat standard", depending on the specific context.

Is "fairly usual" the same as "very common"?

No, "fairly usual" indicates something is common to some extent, but not as prevalent as something that is "very common". It suggests a moderate level of frequency.

In what contexts is "fairly usual" most appropriate?

"Fairly usual" is suitable in contexts where you want to acknowledge that something is a normal occurrence without implying it happens all the time, like describing weather patterns or typical behaviors.