a modest drop in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest drop in" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or slight decrease in a particular measurement or statistic. Example: "The report indicated a modest drop in sales compared to the previous quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

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

Tacoma instituted the state's first so-called alcohol impact area, in March, in a downtown area, and residents there have reported a modest drop in public drinking.

The New York Times

A recent study showed that state laws that require companies to inform individuals about security breaches on personal information like credit card numbers have resulted in a modest drop in identity theft in those states.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Utilization of endovascular therapy increased from 0.7% to 2% (P<0.001) with a modest drop to 1.9% in 2013.

Duke University

"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

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

Vice

A level of 0.001% did not affect viability, and none of the levels tested caused a sloughing of the monolayer after 90 min. Nitrogen dioxide induced a more modest drop in cell viability after 30 min exposure to 0.1%, while 0.005% and 0.05% were nontoxic.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a modest drop in", ensure that the context accurately reflects a small and not a substantial decrease. This will help maintain clarity and avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest drop in" when the actual decrease is significant. Overstating modesty can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility. Ensure the adjective accurately reflects the extent of the decline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest drop in" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a decrease that is small or limited in scope. As Ludwig AI notes, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a modest drop in" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that effectively conveys a slight decrease. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and academia. Remember to use it when the decrease is genuinely small to maintain clarity and accuracy. Alternatives include "a slight decline in" or "a small reduction in". However, overstating the modesty of a drop can be misleading, so always ensure the adjective accurately reflects the extent of the change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight decline in

Replaces 'drop' with 'decline', implying a gradual decrease.

a small reduction in

Substitutes 'modest' with 'small' and 'drop' with 'reduction', focusing on the amount of decrease.

a marginal decrease in

Uses 'marginal' instead of 'modest' to suggest a minimal change.

a limited fall in

Replaces 'drop' with 'fall', emphasizing the action of decreasing and 'limited' denotes the small amount.

a gentle easing of

Employs 'gentle easing' to convey a smooth and gradual decrease.

a minor dip in

Replaces 'drop' with 'dip', indicating a temporary and slight decrease.

a tempered decrease in

Uses 'tempered' to suggest that the decrease is moderate and controlled.

a controlled reduction of

Expresses the decrease as actively managed or restrained.

a shallow decrease in

Uses 'shallow' to emphasize the slight depth or extent of the reduction.

a light easing in

Replaces the term 'drop' to easing and 'modest' with 'light' to emphasize the slight decrease.

FAQs

How to use "a modest drop in" in a sentence?

You can use "a modest drop in" to describe a slight decrease in something. For example: "The company reported "a modest drop in" sales this quarter."

What can I say instead of "a modest drop in"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight decline in", "a small reduction in", or "a marginal decrease in" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a modest increase in"?

Yes, "a modest increase in" is correct and it describes a small rise or growth. The opposite would be ""a modest drop in"", which indicates a small decline.

What's the difference between "a modest drop in" and "a significant drop in"?

"A modest drop in" indicates a small or slight decrease, while "a significant drop in" suggests a large or substantial decrease. The choice depends on the magnitude of the change you're describing.