is fairly decent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is fairly decent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a moderate level of quality or acceptability of something, indicating that it is better than average but not outstanding. Example: "The restaurant we visited last night is fairly decent, with good service and a pleasant atmosphere."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Eight games over.500 is fairly decent," said Neilson.

The New York Times - Sports

Network: Lucky for me, I'm in NYC so T-Mobile's 3G network is fairly decent.

TechCrunch

Cornering is fairly decent in the Avalon, but there's a bit of body roll, and you wouldn't mistake this car for a full-size German sedan.

Forbes

As their name suggests, the beer list is fairly decent for this establishment, exceeding the usual offering of Super Bock and Sagres.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"And the rates on fixed mortgages are fairly decent".

The New York Times

"We feel that the economy will be healthy and that the comparisons will be fairly decent".

The New York Times

The jobs numbers for the past five months or so, taken as a whole, have been fairly decent, especially relative to where the figures had been throughout most of the last three years.

The New York Times

Pepper likes to fish and practice ventriloquism, but he also has another impressive trick: He's fairly decent at naming nuts: "Cashew nut, pistachio nut... red pistachio nut... .. pause for reflection... "Macadamia nut".

The Guardian - Film

The film version of A Handful of Dust (the work of the director and producer of the TV Brideshead), starring Waugh lookalike James Wilby, was fairly decent, but the early satires Decline and Fall and Vile Bodies turned into tedious affairs.

The Guardian - Film

"Since I became manager, the performances have been fairly decent in the majority of the games," he said.

BBC

That's fairly decent number for a paid application serving the more niche pro consumer crowd.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is fairly decent" when you want to convey that something is better than average but not exceptional. It's a balanced way to express moderate satisfaction.

Common error

Avoid using "is fairly decent" when describing something truly outstanding. This phrase implies a level of mediocrity that would be inappropriate for high-quality subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is fairly decent" functions as a subjective assessment, indicating that something meets a reasonable standard or expectation without being exceptional. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is fairly decent" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey a moderate level of quality or acceptability. According to Ludwig AI, it suggests something is better than average but not outstanding. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it functions as a subjective assessment expressing moderate satisfaction. While "is fairly decent" is versatile, alternatives like "is reasonably good" or "is quite acceptable" may be more suitable depending on the desired level of formality or emphasis. Remember that this expression indicates something meets a reasonable standard, without any exceptional aspects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is reasonably good

Replaces "fairly decent" with "reasonably good", offering a slightly more formal tone.

is quite acceptable

Substitutes "fairly decent" with "quite acceptable", emphasizing acceptability over quality.

is moderately satisfactory

Replaces "fairly decent" with "moderately satisfactory", which is more formal and emphasizes a satisfactory level.

is passably good

Uses "passably good" instead of "fairly decent", suggesting something that is just good enough.

is somewhat adequate

Replaces "fairly decent" with "somewhat adequate", indicating a basic level of sufficiency.

is tolerably good

Uses "tolerably good" instead of "fairly decent", suggesting something that is acceptable but not particularly impressive.

is average

Simple replacement with a very common synonym. Shifting the focus on normality

is not bad

Uses a double negative to convey a similar meaning, indicating something is at least acceptable.

is all right

Replaces "fairly decent" with "all right", a more informal way of saying something is acceptable.

is respectable

Changes the focus to emphasize worthiness and admiration.

FAQs

How can I use "is fairly decent" in a sentence?

You can use "is fairly decent" to describe something that is better than average but not exceptional. For example, "The food at the new restaurant is fairly decent".

What can I say instead of "is fairly decent"?

You can use alternatives like "is reasonably good", "is quite acceptable", or "is moderately satisfactory" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "is fairly decent"?

It's appropriate to use "is fairly decent" when you want to express that something is of acceptable quality but not particularly remarkable. It's suitable for everyday situations and casual conversation.

Which is correct, "is fairly decent" or "is very decent"?

"Is fairly decent" and "is very decent" have slightly different meanings. "Is fairly decent" implies a moderate level of quality, while "is very decent" suggests a higher level of quality. The choice depends on the specific context and the level of quality you want to convey.