a modest drop

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest drop" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or slight decrease in something, such as prices, performance, or levels. Example: "After the recent market fluctuations, we observed a modest drop in stock prices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

On the contrary, there has been a modest drop.

Independent

Analysts had forecast a modest drop to 99.5.

The Guardian - Business

She predicted a modest drop in the trade surplus for the year.

The New York Times

Instead the Tories experienced a modest drop in their vote and gained some seats.

The Guardian

It sees only a modest drop in Japan's private-sector saving surplus, from 11% of GDP in 2004 to 9% in 2012.

The Economist

When a blogger recently took a modest drop in the unemployment rate as reason to turn attention to the deficit, Paul Krugman moaned, "Not Again With the Pivot").

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

There was a modest drop-out rate for this kind of a study and the drop-out rate was comparable between both conditions.

BMC Psychiatry

"Even Germany looks to have fallen into a renewed decline, though only a very modest drop in output is signalled.

The Guardian - Business

Some other highlights of the dissertation are as follows: ¿ I find that the intrinsic cortical noise in the brain which manifests itself as uncertainty in motion estimation can play an important role in perception by significantly improving detectability of subliminal motion cues at the expense of a very modest drop in performance for a suprathreshold signal ala stochastic resonance.

University of California, Berkeley

While One Day saw the gentlest fall of any film in the top 10 (down 28%), The Smurfs gave the romantic drama a run for its money with a similarly modest drop of 29%.

The Guardian - Film

Oil prices crashed from $115 to $30 a barrel in 2015 because of a relatively modest drop in worldwide demand.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a change, specify the starting and ending points to provide context for the "modest drop". For example, "There was a modest drop in sales, from 100 units to 95 units."

Common error

Avoid using "a modest drop" when the decrease is substantial; doing so can mislead your audience. If the drop is significant, use terms like "a considerable decrease" or "a sharp decline" to accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest drop" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, quantifying the extent of a decrease. Ludwig examples show its usage in diverse contexts, confirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a modest drop" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes a slight decrease. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Scientific publications. When employing this phrase, it's beneficial to provide context by specifying the starting and ending values. Remember, its effectiveness lies in accurately portraying small reductions; avoid using it when describing significant declines to prevent misinterpretation. Alternatives such as "a slight decrease" or "a small decline" can be used to convey a similar meaning. This phrase serves as a valuable tool for conveying nuanced information about decreases without overstating their impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight decrease

Focuses on the reduction aspect, using a more general term.

a small decline

Emphasizes the downward trend, maintaining the idea of a small amount.

a marginal reduction

Uses "marginal" to emphasize the small scale of the reduction.

a limited decrease

Highlights the restriction in the extent of the decrease.

a gentle fall

Uses a softer term ("fall") to describe the decrease.

a mild reduction

Replaces "modest" with "mild", suggesting a less severe change.

a slight downturn

Specifically refers to a downward turn, often in economic contexts.

a minor decrease

Synonymous with "small", but uses "minor" to indicate less significance.

a negligible decline

Highlights the insignificance of the decline.

a tempered reduction

Uses the word "tempered" suggesting the reduction is moderate and controlled.

FAQs

What does "a modest drop" mean?

The phrase "a modest drop" refers to a small or slight decrease in something, such as a quantity, value, or level. It suggests that the reduction is not significant or substantial.

How can I use "a modest drop" in a sentence?

You can use "a modest drop" to describe a small decrease in various contexts. For example: "The company experienced "a modest drop" in profits this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "a modest drop"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight decrease", "a small decline", or "a marginal reduction" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "a modest drop" in formal writing?

Yes, "a modest drop" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you want to accurately describe a small reduction without exaggerating its impact. It's commonly used in news reports, business analyses, and academic papers.