is fairly good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is fairly good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a moderate level of quality or satisfaction about something. Example: "The restaurant's food is fairly good, but I've had better meals elsewhere."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The food in the House of Commons is fairly good.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But, take it all in all, the picture is fairly good.

The Economist

While Orbitz is fairly good, OnTheFly is better, at least for finding flights.

The New York Times - Tech

Mr. Sauter does not advocate market timing, but, he says, "The outlook right now is fairly good".

The New York Times

He added: "The output is fairly good, fairly balanced, fairly free of tilting one way or another.

The New York Times

What you might call the mood music in advance of the conference (known in the jargon as COP21) is fairly good.

Independent

Our political system is fairly good at protecting civil liberties but very bad at concerted, coherent action on behalf of majorities.

The New Yorker

Mr. Wheeler, who says his health is "fairly good," said he could not foresee a time when he would stop having the test.

The New York Times - Health

Bench Coach is as good as anything else in this category, which is to say that it is fairly good but not great.

The New York Times - Tech

Tea Party supporters over all are more likely than the general public to say their personal financial situation is fairly good or very good.

The New York Times

This man's male friend is fairly good looking until his mouth is forced open, exposing the few rotten teeth he has left.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is fairly good", consider the context to ensure that it accurately reflects the level of satisfaction or quality you want to convey. It implies a moderate level, so make sure it aligns with your intended message.

Common error

Avoid using "is fairly good" when describing something that is clearly exceptional or outstanding. This phrase can downplay achievements; instead, use stronger adjectives like "excellent" or "exceptional".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is fairly good" functions as a subject complement, providing information about the subject's quality or condition. It is used to express a moderate level of satisfaction or adequacy, indicating that something meets a certain standard without being exceptional. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

41%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is fairly good" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a moderate level of quality or satisfaction. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for a range of contexts, especially in news and scientific writing. While it's a useful term, remember that other phrases, like ""is quite good"" or "is reasonably good", can offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis. It is important to choose alternatives to properly convey your assessment or judgment, ensuring you avoid potential pitfalls like understating or overstating the quality in question. The phrase should be suitable for the specific situation for the specific situation and the audience at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is reasonably good

Replaces "fairly" with "reasonably", suggesting a similar level of satisfaction, but perhaps implying a more logical or justifiable assessment.

is quite good

Uses "quite" instead of "fairly", indicating a slightly higher degree of quality or approval.

is rather good

Uses "rather" in place of "fairly," suggesting a slightly more enthusiastic endorsement.

is moderately good

Substitutes "fairly" with "moderately", conveying a more measured or balanced assessment of the quality.

is somewhat good

Replaces "fairly" with "somewhat", which softens the affirmation slightly.

is generally good

Implies that the quality is good overall, with possible minor exceptions.

is comparatively good

Adds a sense of comparison, suggesting the quality is good relative to something else.

is sufficiently good

Indicates that the quality meets a certain minimum requirement or is adequate for a specific purpose.

is acceptably good

Similar to "sufficiently good", emphasizing that the quality is good enough to be accepted, even if not exceptional.

is passably good

Suggests that the quality is just good enough to pass or be tolerated, implying a minimal level of acceptance.

FAQs

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

You can use "is fairly good" to describe something of moderate quality or satisfaction. For example: "The movie was fairly good, but not the best I've seen this year".

What's a more enthusiastic way to say "is fairly good"?

If you want to express stronger approval, consider using phrases like "is very good", "is excellent", or "is outstanding".

What are some alternatives to "is fairly good" that suggest a lower level of quality?

Phrases like "is passable", "is acceptable", or "is sufficient" can be used to describe something that meets the minimum requirements but isn't particularly impressive.

Is there a difference between "is fairly good" and "is quite good"?

While both phrases express approval, "is quite good" generally indicates a slightly higher level of satisfaction or quality than "is fairly good". The difference is subtle but can influence the overall tone.