a modest decline of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest decline of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a small or moderate decrease in a particular metric or value, such as sales, performance, or statistics. Example: "The company reported a modest decline of 5% in quarterly profits compared to the previous year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Finally, the survey of employers also done by the Labor Department shows a modest decline of 30,000 jobs from May to June.

The New York Times

Falling to 11th place, with a modest decline of 20%, Boyhood remains the top choice for indie fans, with a cumulative gross to date of £1.93m.

The Guardian - Film

With a modest decline of just 19%, Steven Spielberg's War Horse romped home to a second-leg victory at the UK box office with £3.19m, way ahead of the chasing pack.

The Guardian - Film

By extension, a modest decline of the yuan back to its original peg of 8.7 to the dollar should not have huge effects on the region's trade.Some of the upward pressure will come off the yuan next year.

The Economist

Nearly all genes that were marked by H3K4me3 at their TSSs in QSCs from young mice retained the mark with age, despite a modest decline of the normalized tag intensity around TSSs.

Cell Reports

However, analyses of respective MFIs showed that milatuzumab diminished the MFI of CD44 staining on CD19+ B cells by an average of 10.7% (109.9 ± 20.1 to 98.0 ± 20.0) and the MFI of CD27- naïve B cells by 12.1% (94.6 ± 15.2 to 83.2 ± 15.3), whereas the MFI of CD27+ memory B cells showed only a modest decline of 5.3% (181.1 ± 34.0 to 172.2 ± 37.0).

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

One important area of consistency is a modest decline for Ron Paul, from 24percentt on PPP's poll last week to 20percentt on the new survey.

Huffington Post

Analysts had forecast a modest decline to 57.

Forbes

Of course, we have to accept high levels of inequality, an elitist education system, propaganda from an almost wholly rightwing press, undermining union power, access to justice biased towards the rich, reduction of state services, etc, but we do get to keep some level of material security with only a modest decline in standards of living.

The Guardian

A study using Health Survey for England data between 2003 and 2010 found a modest decline in rates of CKD, despite increases in diabetes and obesity.

BMJ Open

The increase in the risk of cerebral palsy with increasing gestation under the fetuses-at-risk formulation was a consequence of both a modest decline in the number of fetuses at risk (from 225,786 at 28 weeks to 217,675 at 37 weeks) and a relatively large increase in the number of cerebral palsy cases at later gestational ages (from 55 cases at 28 31 weeks to 201 cases at ≥37 weeks, Table 1).

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a modest decline of", ensure that the context provides specific details about what is declining and the extent of the decline to give readers a clear understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest decline of" when the decrease is substantial. Reserve the phrase for situations where the reduction is truly small or moderate, otherwise, opt for words like "significant decrease".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest decline of" functions as a noun phrase that quantifies a decrease. It typically introduces a specific amount or percentage, as seen in examples from Ludwig, such as "a modest decline of 30,000 jobs" or "a modest decline of 20%."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a modest decline of" is a phrase used to describe a small or moderate reduction, as validated by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and scientific contexts. While "a modest decline of" is relatively frequent, it's important to choose this phrase carefully to accurately represent the situation, reserving it for decreases that are genuinely modest. Alternative phrases such as "a slight decrease of" or "a small reduction of" can be used for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight decrease of

Replaces "modest" with "slight", indicating a minimal change in magnitude.

a small reduction of

Substitutes "decline" with "reduction", focusing on the act of lessening.

a marginal drop of

Employs "marginal" to highlight the small scale of the decrease.

a limited decrease of

Uses "limited" to denote the constrained nature of the decline.

a gentle fall of

Replaces "decline" with "fall", suggesting a gradual reduction.

a mild downturn of

Substitutes "decline" with "downturn", implying a temporary reduction.

a tempered lessening of

Uses "tempered lessening" to convey a controlled or moderate reduction.

a contained contraction of

Replaces "decline" with "contraction", indicating a shrinking or reduction in size.

a restrained decrease of

Employs "restrained" to emphasize the controlled nature of the reduction.

a measured depreciation of

Substitutes "decline" with "depreciation", focusing on a decrease in value or worth.

FAQs

How can I use "a modest decline of" in a sentence?

You can use "a modest decline of" to describe a slight reduction in something. For example: "The company experienced "a modest decline of" 2% in sales this quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "a modest decline of"?

Alternatives include "a slight decrease of", "a small reduction of", or "a marginal drop of". The best choice depends on the context.

Is it better to say "a modest decline of" or "a significant decline of"?

The choice depends on the magnitude of the decrease. Use "a modest decline of" for small reductions and "a significant decline of" for larger, more impactful decreases.

What's the difference between "a modest decline of" and "a sharp decline of"?

"A modest decline of" indicates a small, gradual reduction, while "a sharp decline of" suggests a rapid and substantial decrease. They describe different rates and amounts of reduction.