a modest feedback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest feedback" is not correct in standard English.
The word "feedback" is an uncountable noun, so it should not be preceded by "a." Example: "I would appreciate any modest feedback you can provide on my presentation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is measured at the serving BS and sent with a modest feedback rate requirement on the return channel.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

When we added those two things up, the investments necessary to educate the consumer on the difference between RT and Windows 8, plus the modest feedback that we got regarding how successful could this be at retail from our retail partners, we decided maybe we ought to wait.

TechCrunch

In addition, because the PER CRY negative feedback complex cannot repress USF1-mediated transactivation, a modest increase in USF1 could activate target genes more effectively than CLOCKΔ19 BMAL1.

eLife

Feedforward/feedback coincidence detection in the positive feedback loop and multi-stage amplification both improved tracking with only a modest loss of amplification.

Plosone

Take a modest proposal.

The Guardian

Here's a modest proposal.

The New York Times

A modest little house designed.

The New Yorker

It had a modest impact.

The New York Times - Science

It is a modest proposition.

The New Yorker

A modest backlash was inevitable.

The New York Times - Sports

Some earn a modest pension.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to feedback, remember that it is generally an uncountable noun. Use quantifiers like "some", "a little", or "a bit of" before "feedback" to make your sentence grammatically correct.

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before uncountable nouns like "feedback", "information", or "advice". Incorrect: "a feedback". Correct: "some feedback".

Linguistic Context

The phrase's intended function is to describe the act of giving feedback. However, it presents a grammatical issue, as pointed out by Ludwig AI, since "feedback" is an uncountable noun and should not be preceded by the indefinite article "a".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "a modest feedback" aims to describe limited or moderate feedback, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, "feedback" is generally an uncountable noun and should not be preceded by "a". To correct this, use phrases like "some modest feedback" or "a bit of feedback". Despite its appearance in some sources, it's best to avoid this construction in formal writing to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some modest feedback

Uses "some" instead of "a" to correct the grammatical error with the uncountable noun "feedback".

slight feedback

Replaces "modest" with "slight" to indicate a small amount of feedback.

limited feedback

Uses "limited" to convey a restriction on the amount of feedback provided.

a bit of feedback

Uses "a bit of" to make "feedback" grammatically correct as an uncountable noun and to express a small amount.

a small amount of feedback

More explicitly quantifies the feedback as being a small amount.

minimal feedback

Conveys that the feedback is kept to the smallest possible amount.

brief feedback

Focuses on the concise nature of the feedback.

concise feedback

Emphasizes the succinctness of the feedback.

some gentle feedback

Adds the nuance of feedback being kind and mild.

constructive feedback

Focuses on the quality and helpfulness of the feedback, rather than its quantity.

FAQs

Why is "a modest feedback" grammatically incorrect?

The word "feedback" is an uncountable noun in English. Uncountable nouns cannot be preceded by the indefinite article "a". Instead, use "some", "any", "a bit of", or another suitable quantifier.

What can I use instead of "a modest feedback"?

You can use phrases like "some modest feedback", "a bit of modest feedback", or "slight feedback".

Is it ever correct to use 'a' before 'feedback'?

No, "feedback" is generally considered an uncountable noun, so it is not correct to use "a" before it. There might be very specific technical contexts where "feedback" is used differently, but those are rare exceptions.

How can I provide feedback without making grammatical errors?

Focus on using quantifiers appropriate for uncountable nouns. For example, instead of saying "I have a feedback", say "I have "some feedback"" or "I can offer "a few pointers"".