it is fairly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is fairly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a moderate degree of something, often in relation to quality, quantity, or extent. Example: "The weather is fairly mild for this time of year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is fairly cheap.

The Economist

"It is fairly predictable.

The New York Times

It is fairly lacklustre.

The Guardian - Business

It is fairly straightforward.

The Guardian - Sport

As a market it is fairly mature.

The Economist

It is fairly easy to pirate software.

The Economist

It is fairly obvious why.

The Guardian

"Some of it is fairly commonsensical.

The Guardian - Books

A. Yes, it is fairly inelastic.

The New York Times

It is fairly normal in the priesthood.

The Guardian - Opinion

Because the industry is new, it is fairly co-operative.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is fairly" to express a moderate degree or level of something, avoiding extremes. It's suitable for situations where you want to convey a balanced assessment.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "it is fairly" in formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound less precise. Consider using more specific adjectives or adverbs to convey the degree more accurately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is fairly" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies an adjective or adverb, indicating a moderate degree. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where the phrase precedes adjectives to soften or qualify their intensity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

29%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is fairly" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a moderate degree or level of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile enough to be used in diverse contexts, primarily appearing in news, science, and general informational sources. To avoid overuse in formal writing, consider alternatives like "it is quite" or "it is relatively" to maintain precision and variety in your writing. This phrase is very helpful to tone down the emphasis, to not sound too affirmative, it is a good middle ground between opposing positions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is quite

Emphasizes the degree to a slightly higher extent than "fairly".

it is rather

Suggests a similar level to "fairly" but can sometimes imply a slight surprise or reservation.

it is relatively

Indicates a comparison to something else, providing context for the level being described.

it is somewhat

Suggests a slightly lower degree than "fairly", indicating a moderate but not substantial level.

it is reasonably

Implies a level that meets expectations or is within acceptable limits.

it is moderately

Formally expresses a level that is neither high nor low, similar to "fairly".

it is passably

Suggests a level that is just good enough or acceptable, often with a hint of reservation.

it is tolerably

Indicates a level that is bearable or acceptable, often in a situation that is not ideal.

it is acceptably

Expresses that something meets the minimum requirements or standards.

it is comfortably

Implies a level that is easily within a certain range or limit, without strain or difficulty.

FAQs

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

You can use "it is fairly" to describe a moderate level or degree of something. For example, "The movie "is fairly entertaining"" or "The task "is fairly simple"".

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

Alternatives to "it is fairly" include phrases like "it is quite", "it is rather", or "it is relatively", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "it is fairly good" or "it is quite good"?

Both "it is fairly good" and "it is quite good" are grammatically correct, but "it is quite good" suggests a slightly higher degree of goodness than "it is fairly good". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

What's the difference between "it is fairly common" and "it is very common"?

"It is fairly common" indicates that something occurs moderately often, while "it is very common" suggests that it occurs frequently. "It is fairly common" implies a lesser degree of frequency than "it is very common".