a moderate number

USAGE SUMMARY

"a moderate number" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a quantity that is neither too small nor too large. For example, "She had a moderate number of friends at the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The method is appropriate for systems with a moderate number of factors and large variances.

European Journal of Operational Research

A moderate number of hotspots arose from some combination of two methodologies, but very few arose from all three methodologies.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And so we did, eventually finding a moderate number of lizards.

The New York Times

A moderate number of components (right) is needed to explain 75% of the variance indicating low dimensional activity patterns.

Nature

The spontaneous activity events contain a moderate number of relevant principal components as shown by the cumulative explained variance.

Nature

Adjusting a moderate number of parameters all having a physical meaning leads to good agreement between theory and experiment.

Acta Materialia

Numerical results show that only a moderate number of reliability estimates has to be performed during the entire design process.

Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering

This innovative forum emphasized: (1) civic groups as the participants and (2) engaging a moderate number of participants.

Social Science & Medicine

A set of directly applicable exact experimental plans with a moderate number of runs is also proposed for these situations.

Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference

Optimal photon-sorting efficiencies are obtained for a moderate number of grooves that overlap with grooves of the neighbor pixel.

Photonics and Nanostructures - Fundamentals and Applications

This is comparable or even better than any other methods including FORM for a moderate number of random variables tested.

Structural Safety

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a moderate number" when you want to indicate a quantity that is average or within an acceptable range, avoiding extremes of too few or too many.

Common error

Avoid using "a moderate number" when the situation requires a precise count or when the quantity is actually substantial. "Moderate" suggests a middle ground, not a negligible amount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a moderate number" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a quantity that is neither excessive nor insufficient. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe a quantity falling within a reasonable range. Examples include "a moderate number of factors" and "a moderate number of lizards."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

20%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a moderate number" is a versatile determiner phrase used to indicate a quantity that is neither too large nor too small. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it serves to provide an approximate count, suggesting an amount that is average or acceptable without demanding precision. When using this phrase, ensure that 'moderate' accurately reflects the quantity, avoiding its use when a precise count is necessary or when the quantity is actually substantial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fair amount

Changes the noun from "number" to "amount" implying a quantity that is acceptable or reasonable.

a reasonable quantity

Replaces "moderate number" with "reasonable quantity", focusing on the adequacy of the amount.

a good few

An informal way of saying a number that is more than expected, but not excessive.

several

A more concise term indicating more than two but not very many.

a handful

Suggests a small but noticeable quantity.

some

A general term indicating an unspecified quantity.

a certain amount

Indicates an amount that is known or can be specified, but is not very large.

a proportion

Refers to a part or share in relation to a whole, implying neither too much nor too little.

a respectable number

Highlights that the number is noteworthy and worthy of respect.

a sufficient quantity

Emphasizes that the amount is enough to meet a particular need or purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "a moderate number" in a sentence?

You can use "a moderate number" to describe a quantity that is neither very large nor very small. For example, "A moderate number of students attended the lecture."

What are some alternatives to "a moderate number"?

Alternatives include "a fair amount", "several", or "a reasonable quantity" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a moderate number" in formal writing?

Yes, "a moderate number" is suitable for formal writing when you need to indicate an approximate quantity without being overly precise. However, in situations demanding exact figures, it's better to provide specific numbers.

How does "a moderate number" differ from "a significant number"?

"A moderate number" suggests an average or medium quantity, while "a significant number" implies that the quantity is large enough to be important or noteworthy.