Know Your English (Oct 2001)-8

Know your English

What is the difference between `fairly' and `rather'?

"Rather" is the stronger of the two words. When you say that the movie was "rather good ", it implies that it was pretty good; it was much better than you had expected. So in your opinion, people should go and see it; you recommend it. On the other hand, when you say that it was "fairly good", what you are implying is that it was OK. There was nothing great about the film, if the friend wants to, he/she may go and see it, but you wouldn't recommend it. Similarly, when you tell someone that his English is "fairly good", you are not really complimenting him. All that you are saying is that his English is OK. Here are a few more examples.
*Jyothi made a fairly/rather good presentation.
*During summer, it gets fairly/rather warm.
*Sreetilak's wife is fairly/rather good looking.

Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, October 16, 2001

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Play comforter discuss
Definition:	(noun) A person who reduces the intensity (e.g., of fears) and calms and pacifies.
Synonyms:	allayer, reliever
Usage:	She indeed veiled her grief and strove to act the comforter to us all.

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