a modest increment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest increment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small or slight increase in quantity, value, or degree. Example: "The company decided to implement a modest increment in salaries to help employees cope with rising living costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"The question is: How much will it cost, and what is the price for getting what will likely be a modest increment in activity?" asked Heywood T. Sanders, a professor of public administration at the University of Texas and a leading researcher on the economics of convention centers.

The New York Times

At transcript level a modest increment (less than +2-fold) of biosynthetic genes of fatty acids under N deprivation was observed [ 33].

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Scrutiny of the most recent crop of GWA studies shows only a modest increment in new loci over the 2008 GWA for lipids and type 2 diabetes, indicating that the 'low-hanging fruit' has been harvested [ 29, 30].

Diabetologia

At P15 Gfap Cre Dicer f/f mice exhibited a modest increment of apoptotic cells (control: 0.65±0.29; Gfap Cre Dicer f/f : 2.5±1.6 Tunel+/section, P<0.05, Supplementary Figures S2l q), that especially persisted in the dorsal SVZ (Supplementary Figures S2l and p), while undetectable within the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the Gfap Cre Dicer f/f hippocampus (Supplementary Figures S2m and q).

Cell Death and Disease

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Barclays has recommended a modest increase.

The New York Times

A modest height increment of 500 m used in the first iteration steps led to considerable improvement (76%) with respect to the initial RMS-fit.

Earth, Planets and Space

We create Orwellian programs that claim to respect our best teachers by giving them many more students, along with paraprofessionals and a modest salary increment.

Huffington Post

Also, the modest increment in plasma channel radius is needed to obtain maximum accelerating gradient.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

The composites also exhibit superior creep performance with modest increment in yield strength compared to neat polymer.

Polymer

As shown in this figure, by the modest increment in plasma channel radius, the acceleration gradient increases as the modest reduction in the size of proton bunch [35].

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

The modest increment in mPAP relative to CO during pharmacological stress is attributable to passive recruitment and distension of a normally compliant pulmonary circulation with active flow-mediated vasodilation, decreasing PVR and TPR [ 15].

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a modest increment", ensure the context clarifies what is being increased and why the increase is considered modest. This adds clarity and prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest increment" when the increase is actually substantial. Doing so can mislead the reader and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest increment" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the extent of an increase or addition, implying that the change is small or limited. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its example sentences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a modest increment" is a noun phrase used to describe a small or slight increase. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in both scientific and news contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While interchangeable with terms like "a slight increase" or "a small addition", it's important to ensure the 'modest' qualification accurately reflects the scale of the increase to avoid misleading the reader. The phrase sees most use in scientific texts, with significantly less use in news and media, with an authoritative selection of sources that feature it, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight increase

Replaces "modest increment" with more common synonyms for both words.

a small addition

Substitutes "increment" with "addition", focusing on the act of adding a small amount.

a marginal gain

Emphasizes the smallness of the increase and its positive outcome.

a limited growth

Highlights the constrained nature of the increase in terms of growth.

a minor boost

Indicates a small, positive impetus or encouragement.

a gentle rise

Suggests a slow and gradual increase.

a fractional increase

Emphasizes the small, often less than whole, nature of the increase.

a negligible addition

Highlights the insignificance of the added amount.

a tempered expansion

Implies that the expansion is controlled or limited in scope.

a controlled increase

Focuses on the controlled and regulated aspect of the increment

FAQs

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

You can use "a modest increment" to describe a small increase in something. For example, "The company saw "a modest increment" in sales this quarter".

What's the difference between "a modest increment" and "a significant increase"?

"A modest increment" refers to a small or slight increase, while "a significant increase" implies a substantial or noteworthy rise. The choice depends on the magnitude of the change you're describing.

What can I say instead of "a modest increment"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight increase", "a small addition", or "a marginal gain" depending on the context.

Is it ever wrong to use the phrase "a modest increment"?

It would be inappropriate to use "a modest increment" if the actual increase is large or considerable. Using it in such a context would be misleading and inaccurate.