a modest deviation from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest deviation from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a small or slight difference from a standard, norm, or expectation. Example: "The results of the experiment showed a modest deviation from the predicted outcomes, indicating the need for further investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We found a borderline significant quadratic association for chronic liver disease, but graphing the results showed only a modest deviation from linearity (data not shown).

British Journal of Cancer

The precise estimate of the change in mortality rate might be less certain in this case due to the fact that the proportional hazards assumption underlying the CoxPH model is rejected (P-value < 10−15) and a modest deviation from the assumption (r = 0.17) is detected.

Aging Cell

Second, using this formalism, we have shown for three mammalian lineages (human, mouse and rat) that the variance in the rates for divergence in different gene triplets is not large enough to greatly overdisperse the f2 metric and can be fit by a model that assumes a modest deviation from a model of gene-invariant transition rate constants.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Mean FFT across populations was lower than 0.1, suggesting modest deviation from random mating due to individual populations.

Genome Biology and Evolution

The meta-analysis of stage 1 discovery genome scans of macronutrient intake showed modest deviation from the expected distribution of P values under the null hypothesis, particularly for protein intake (see Supplemental Figure S1 under "Supplemental data" in the online issue).

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

In fact, many of the government's policies have proved so effective that although John Key, an affable ex-banker, manfully strove to invoke Barack Obama by calling for "change," he offered only modest deviations from his opponents' agenda.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, many questions remain unanswered, particularly as to what specific mechanisms generate the modest deviations from the basic patterns that we observe in each sport, and how exactly teams exerting such great efforts against each other can conspire to produce gameplay so reminiscent of simple stochastic processes.

EPJ Data Science

A scatter plot between observed and predicted biomass (Figure 5b) suggests that the OOB predictions were in proper scale (regression slopes  = ∼1) with modest deviations from the observations.

Plosone

Overall, serum total IGF-I levels showed only modest deviations from baseline during the experiments.

BMC Nephrology

However, there are modest deviations from 1 at the termini, positions 1 and 10.

eLife

Early treatment would not be accepted if only modest deviations from the norm are present.

Clinical Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a modest deviation from", ensure the context clearly establishes the norm or standard being deviated from. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest deviation from" when the difference is actually substantial. Overstating the smallness can mislead the reader and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest deviation from" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, describing the extent to which something differs from a standard or expected value. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a modest deviation from" is used to describe a small difference or variation from a norm, standard, or expectation. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically sound and usable in various writing styles. The examples suggest it is commonly found in scientific and journalistic contexts. Alternatives like "a slight departure from" or "a small variation from" can be used to convey a similar meaning. When using this phrase, ensure the norm is clearly defined to provide context. Be mindful not to exaggerate the significance of the deviation, as it could mislead the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight departure from

Emphasizes the act of moving away from something, highlighting the difference.

a small variation from

Highlights the aspect of change and difference between things.

a minor divergence from

Focuses on the splitting or branching off from a particular course.

a marginal difference from

Highlights the fact that the difference is very small and almost insignificant.

a negligible alteration to

Focuses on the change or modification being so small as to be unimportant.

a limited shift from

Emphasizes the change in position or direction, but in a restricted way.

a subtle alteration from

Highlights the change or modification being difficult to perceive or detect.

a restricted departure from

Focuses on the act of leaving something but with defined limits and controls.

a controlled variance from

Emphasizes the deviation is monitored or managed to remain within acceptable bounds.

a tempered divergence from

Highlights the deviation as being moderate in its intensity or degree.

FAQs

How can I use "a modest deviation from" in a sentence?

Use "a modest deviation from" to indicate a small difference or variation from a norm or expectation. For example: "The experimental results showed "a modest deviation from" the predicted values."

What are some alternatives to "a modest deviation from"?

Alternatives include "a slight departure from", "a small variation from", or "a minor divergence from depending on the specific nuance you want to convey".

Is it better to say "slight deviation" or "modest deviation"?

Both "slight deviation" and "modest deviation" are acceptable, but "modest" often implies a deliberate or controlled variation, while "slight" simply refers to the degree of difference.

What's the difference between "a modest deviation from" and "a significant deviation from"?

"A modest deviation from" indicates a small, often unimportant difference, while "a significant deviation from" implies a large, notable difference that is likely to have an impact.