a modest effort to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest effort to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an attempt or action that is not overly ambitious or grandiose. Example: "The organization made a modest effort to improve community engagement through local events."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

A modest effort to raise $1,000 proved to just a beginning.

The New York Times - Sports

In summation, Neil has made a modest effort to serve the communities in which he has lived.

The New York Times

A balanced program to secure weapons material and technology must include a modest effort to engage scientists with dangerous expertise.

The New York Times

Another clue is that the analysis assumes banks only have to make a modest effort to rely less on short-term funding.

The Economist

And yet on Monday, Australia's prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, abandoned a modest effort to reduce energy emissions under pressure from conservatives in his party.

The New York Times

It is a modest effort to chart how far, in 2016-17 in particular, Russian trolls infected the Guardian and its online debate forums.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

DAVID MACHLOWITZ Westfield, N.J., June 7, 2011 To the Editor: As we send troops to die for our country, it is reasonable to expect our elected officials to behave — a modest effort at shared sacrifice, but still.

The New York Times

Some advocates of federal action on technology issues hold out hope that a more modest effort to regulate online political advertising could advance.

The Washington Post

Just how rare was demonstrated by what happened last Friday in the House of Representatives, when — with the meltdown caused by a runaway financial system still fresh in our minds, and the mass unemployment that meltdown caused still very much in evidence — every single Republican and 27 Democrats voted against a quite modest effort to rein in Wall Street excesses.

The New York Times

If we can't even implement the Volcker Rule, an extremely modest effort to stave off total disaster, then total disaster is exactly what we can expect".

Huffington Post

It should be possible, in a short time and with modest effort, to create a system which demonstrates semantic interoperability and to convince a community of its value.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "a modest effort to" with specific details. Instead of just stating effort is being done, briefly explain what the effort includes.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest effort to" when describing actions that are, in reality, large-scale or resource-intensive. This creates a disconnect with your audience and undermines credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest effort to" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adjective. It modifies a noun, describing the nature and extent of the effort being made. Ludwig's examples show how it often precedes a verb, indicating the purpose of the effort.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a modest effort to" is a prepositional phrase used to describe a limited or small-scale attempt at something. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable in a variety of writing contexts, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, it's important to ensure that the descriptor aligns with the true scale of the action to maintain credibility. Alternatives such as ""a limited attempt to"" or ""a simple attempt to"" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Therefore it is a good practice to combine "a modest effort to" with specific details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a limited attempt to

Emphasizes the restricted scope or scale of the attempt.

a small endeavor to

Replaces "effort" with "endeavor", suggesting a slightly more formal or significant undertaking, while maintaining the sense of small scale.

a slight undertaking to

Uses "undertaking" instead of "effort", suggesting a more deliberate and planned action, albeit still a small one.

a simple attempt to

Focuses on the ease or straightforwardness of the attempt, rather than its scale.

a humble endeavor to

Emphasizes the lack of pretension or arrogance in the effort.

a basic initiative to

Highlights the foundational or preliminary nature of the action.

a tentative step toward

Implies uncertainty or caution in the action, suggesting it is a first move.

a conservative approach to

Suggests a cautious and restrained manner of trying to achieve something

a preliminary measure to

Indicates that the action is an early or initial step in a larger process.

a token gesture of

Suggests that the action is primarily symbolic, with little practical impact expected.

FAQs

How can I use "a modest effort to" in a sentence?

Use "a modest effort to" to describe an action or attempt that is limited in scope or ambition. For example, "The company launched "a modest effort to" reduce its carbon footprint."

What are some alternatives to "a modest effort to"?

You can use alternatives like "a limited attempt to", "a small endeavor to", or "a simple attempt to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a modest effort to" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "a modest effort to" is suitable for formal writing, but consider the context. In some cases, more precise language might be preferred. Alternatives such as "a tentative step toward" or "a preliminary measure to" can convey a more specific meaning.

What's the difference between "a modest effort to" and "a significant effort to"?

"A modest effort to" indicates a small-scale or limited attempt, while "a significant effort to" implies a large-scale, substantial undertaking. The choice depends on the actual size and resources committed to the action you are describing.