a modest estimate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest estimate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when you want to describe a number, cost, or amount that you believe is lower than its true value. For example: "The study found that plastic waste generated by the state is a modest estimate of 10,000 tons per year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A modest estimate would be $400 million a year, or $3.2 billion.

Forbes

That may be a modest estimate.

The Guardian - Sport

His contributions to charities have been widespread and generous, and at a modest estimate amount to considerably over three lakhs of rupees.

Cornell University

And a piece of recent research, which shows that the cost of cutting pollution often turns out to be less than forecast, supports a modest estimate.

The Economist

Nair had never been on a movie set, never made a feature film, never developed a budget, and had no access to real funding, though, by even a modest estimate, she would need almost a million dollars.

The New Yorker

A modest estimate of mammography's benefit is that it reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer by about ten per cent which works out, for the average woman in her fifties, to be about three extra days of life, or, to put it another way, a health benefit on a par with wearing a helmet on a ten-hour bicycle trip.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

When all trials are combined there is a modest estimated 13% reduction by both the two stage method (RR=0.87, 95% CI 0.68 1.11) and the simultaneous estimation method (RR=0.87, 95% CI 0.68 1.10), with P=0.2 in both cases.

British Journal of Cancer

The new analysis offered a more modest estimate than a Harvard study published in May, which reported roughly 4,645 people died in the aftermath of Maria.

Huffington Post

This survey was a more modest estimate compared with an October poll that found "nearly two-thirds of voters (65%) support a proposal to legalise, regulate and tax marijuana in California for adults".

The Guardian - Opinion

Last weekend, the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, said that the country faced a power shortage of 11% of demand and he was taking a very modest estimate of demand.

The Economist

10 More recently, a large RCRR study in the Netherlands reported a figure of 4.1%, 11 which would be consistent with a more modest estimate of 9000 such deaths annually in England.

BMJ Quality and Safety

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a modest estimate", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being estimated and why a lower or more conservative figure is being presented. This helps avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the impact of "a modest estimate". Clearly indicate that it is a conservative figure and that the actual value might be higher. Misleading claims can undermine credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest estimate" functions as a noun phrase that modifies an implied noun. It acts as a descriptor of the quality or nature of the estimate itself. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a modest estimate" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate a cautious or conservative evaluation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves to temper expectations or downplay potential outcomes across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using "a modest estimate", ensure clarity regarding the subject of estimation and the rationale behind presenting a lower figure. While perfectly usable, alternatives like "a conservative estimate" or "a cautious assessment" may offer subtle variations in emphasis. Remember to avoid overstating the significance of the estimate and clearly acknowledge the potential for a higher actual value.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a conservative figure

Directly refers to the estimated number as being on the lower end.

a conservative approximation

Emphasizes a deliberately cautious approach to estimating.

a cautious assessment

Highlights the careful and guarded nature of the evaluation.

a lower bound estimate

Indicates the minimum value the actual figure is likely to be.

a restrained calculation

Focuses on limiting the scope or scale of the calculation.

a conservative appraisal

Implies a deliberate undervaluing during an assessment.

an understated valuation

Implies that the true value is higher than what is being presented.

a careful projection

Highlights the diligence involved in forecasting the estimate.

a tempered expectation

Suggests a reduction in anticipated outcomes.

a humble guess

Suggests a lack of certainty in the estimated value.

FAQs

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

You can use "a modest estimate" to present a cautious or conservative figure. For example, "The study's authors presented a modest estimate of the potential savings."

What is an alternative to saying "a modest estimate"?

Alternatives include "a conservative estimate", "a cautious assessment", or "a lower bound estimate", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "a modest estimate" or "a conservative estimate"?

Both "a modest estimate" and "a conservative estimate" are valid. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Modest" implies a smaller or more limited amount, while "conservative" suggests a cautious or careful approach.

What does it mean to give "a modest estimate"?

Giving "a modest estimate" means providing a figure that is intentionally lower than what is potentially the true value. This can be done for various reasons, such as to avoid over promising or to account for uncertainties.