The phrase "a degree of optimism" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a certain level or amount of hopefulness about a situation or outcome.
Example: "Despite the challenges we face, there is a degree of optimism that we will succeed in our efforts."
Alternatives: "a level of hope" or "a measure of positivity."
So yes, there's a degree of optimism.
The math is daunting, but a degree of optimism still prevails.
Crucially, she manages to leave the reader with a degree of optimism.
The economy appears to be growing and there is a degree of optimism in Pyongyang.
There is a degree of optimism for Ffos Las tomorrow, while the clerk of the course at Taunton is already "bullish" for Thursday.
These lectures were characterised by such a degree of optimism about the future development of gerontology - and the possible enhancement of lifespan - as to make some of his more conservative colleagues cringe.
There is a degree of tempered optimism.
In the long run, by reducing the return on equity of the banking system, these rules seem likely to reduce bonuses; they have also caused banks to cast a more sceptical eye on some of their operations, as shown by Barclays' retreat from some areas of investment banking.His other points, alas, display a degree of woolly optimism.
Although our validation cohort consisted of separate practices and patients, the practices used the same clinical computer system (EMIS) and so there may be a degree of over-optimism.
An important limitation of our validation is that a degree of over-optimism could exist as, although we have used a completely physically discrete set of general practices for the validation, these practices use the same clinical computer system (EMIS) as those used to derive the algorithm.
Carlton and Timothy Lutts of the Cabot Market Letter one of the better market timers, as measured by the Hulbert Financial Digest were typical: "As we approach the end of one of the stock market's most difficult and challenging years, we're looking ahead, with a high degree of optimism, to a much more favorable stock market in 2002".
