it is fair to expect

USAGE SUMMARY

"it is fair to expect" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to draw a conclusion based on the available evidence or facts. For example: "Given the amount of work being done on the project, it is fair to expect that it will be completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

For this reason, politicians and taxpayers alike are questioning whether it is fair to expect Russia to pay in full.

The New York Times

And given that nuclear prices have gone up everywhere else, it is fair to expect that they will do so to some extent in Asia, too.

The Economist

The outcome of Mila's journey forces us to question whether her acute understanding of human nature is a blessing or a curse, and how much responsibility it is fair to expect young people to take for adults' mistakes.

The Guardian - Books

Outcomes produced by businesses will be a function of the decisions made by executives, and if those decisions are made with little regard for the long term, it is fair to expect that long-term performance of business will suffer.

Harvard Business Review

If you don't claim to have knowledge of a particular technology we don't think it is fair to expect you to know about that technology, even if we use it a lot internally.

The Guardian

The Veloster buyer cares not for stealth, but it is fair to expect a small car like the Turbo, which can cost $26,000 when fully optioned, to nail the fundamentals that cheaper cars like the tC and Kia Forte Koup manage without much fuss.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The NHS needs to spend its resources wisely and so it's fair to expect people to make lifestyle modifications to improve their chances of a straight forward pregnancy.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

The company has consistently grown its sales tally year-on-year, so it's fair to expect $35 billion or more in trading to take place this Sunday — even though there are doubts over China's economy and an ongoing trade war with the U.S. We've dug into the phenomenon so that, this year, you're well-prepared on what to expect.

TechCrunch

It's fair to expect more transparency.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's fair to expect that their treatments will be sensitive, intelligent, responsible.

The New York Times

Next week, it's fair to expect that the real storm will break.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is fair to expect" to set reasonable expectations based on established facts or common understanding. It helps frame what can be logically anticipated in a given situation.

Common error

Avoid using "it is fair to expect" as a veiled demand. Ensure the expectation is genuinely reasonable given the circumstances, not merely a desired outcome imposed unfairly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is fair to expect" functions as a modal expression used to convey a sense of reasonable anticipation or justified expectation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is fair to expect" is a versatile phrase used to express reasonable anticipation based on facts or common understanding. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it sets a tone of justified expectation rather than a demand. To maintain clarity, ensure expectations are genuinely reasonable. While similar alternatives like "it is reasonable to assume" exist, "it is fair to expect" uniquely balances logic and appropriateness. It’s a valuable tool for framing expectations in various communication scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is reasonable to assume

Replaces "fair to expect" with "reasonable to assume", indicating a logical conclusion based on available information. This alternative is more about assumption and logical reasoning.

we have grounds to expect

Replaces 'fair' with 'grounds', to emphasize reason and foundations for expectation.

one can reasonably anticipate

Uses "anticipate" instead of "expect", suggesting a proactive preparation for something likely to happen. This alternative also sounds slightly more formal.

it stands to reason that

Emphasizes the logical progression leading to a particular outcome or belief. More formal and argumentative.

it is logical to anticipate

Similar to the original but emphasizes the logic behind the expectation. This is generally used in more formal context.

it is within the realm of possibility

This alternative reduces the confidence in expectation to only 'possible' and introduces the idea that expectations might not materialize.

it is plausible to predict

Shifts focus to prediction, suggesting an educated guess about future events. More appropriate for scenarios involving forecasting.

one might predict with some confidence

Highlights the speaker's confidence in their prediction. This is different from a 'fair' expectation since it's more about confidence than fairness.

one could reasonably look forward to

Introduces a sense of positive anticipation. This phrase is more related to hopes and desires, than fairness.

we can realistically project

More suitable when discussing projections and forecasts based on factual evidence, rather than general expectations.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it is fair to expect" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it is reasonable to assume" or "one can reasonably anticipate", which convey a sense of logical deduction and measured anticipation.

What's a less formal way to say "it is fair to expect"?

In less formal contexts, you might say "it stands to reason that" or simply "we have grounds to expect", which maintains the idea of reasonable anticipation but with a more conversational tone.

Is "it is fair to expect" the same as "it is reasonable to expect"?

While very similar, "it is fair to expect" implies a sense of justice or appropriateness in the expectation, while "it is reasonable to expect" focuses more on the logical or rational basis for the expectation. They are often interchangeable but carry slightly different nuances.

When is it not appropriate to use "it is fair to expect"?

Avoid using "it is fair to expect" when the expectation is based purely on wishful thinking or lacks any logical or factual basis. In such cases, it may be more appropriate to express a hope or desire rather than an expectation.