a modest quality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest quality" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a moderate or unassuming level of quality, often implying that it is not extravagant or overly impressive. Example: "The restaurant offered a modest quality of service, which was satisfactory but not exceptional."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This study received a modest quality rating.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And yet in a game of modest quality it was the Bears – who flew in on a Thursday night-Friday morning red-eye – who were able to play at something closer to their usual levels.

The Guardian - Sport

"The Bianconeri managed to cope with the attacks from a team which was physical but of modest quality.

BBC

Early massive sequencing approaches producing 50 nt (Genome Analyzer, Solexa/Illumina) to 200 nt (454 Roche) effective reads with a modest average quality only allowed accurate exploration of diversity at the phylum level.

GigaScience

A study was considered of low quality if the score was 0 1, modest quality if the score was 2, and high quality if the score was 3 4 (Appendix A, available online at www.ajpmonline.org).org

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Given the modest quality of the offerings, this was an amazing score.

The New York Times - Arts

Given the modest quality of teams in that quarter of the draw, everybody could see a path to the semifinals, until the Ghanaians outjumped and outmuscled and outfinessed the Americans.

The New York Times - Sports

The most prominent video service, YouTube [18], only works in the area of static content and has recently established the possibility to upload 3D videos in modest quality.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Polymorphisms were then further screened to produce "high" and "modest" quality SNP files.

BMC Genomics

The reading frame of 4,822 high and 8,194 modest quality SNPs could be inferred from regions of alignment between zebra finch genes and the SNP-containing contig.

BMC Genomics

Of the filtered SNPs, 22,427 (94%) high and 33,185 (93%) modest quality SNPs were confirmed by re-assembling pooled and trimmed sequences onto the consensus great tit assembly sequences.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing research or data, use "a modest quality" to objectively indicate the level of rigor or reliability, avoiding overly positive or negative evaluations.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest quality" when you mean the quality is negligible or unimportant. "Modest" implies a discernible, though not exceptional, level of quality, not an absence of it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest quality" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the degree or standard of the noun's quality, indicating it is acceptable but not exceptional. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a modest quality" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that serves to describe something with an acceptable, but not exceptional, level of quality. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is appropriate in various contexts, including science and news media. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that you intend to convey a sense of adequacy rather than insignificance. Consider alternatives like "a decent quality" or "a reasonable quality" to fine-tune the nuance of your writing. Keep in mind that the phrase carries a neutral tone, offering an objective assessment without strong positive or negative connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a moderate quality

Uses "moderate" as a direct synonym for "modest".

a decent quality

Replaces "modest" with "decent", suggesting an acceptable standard.

an acceptable quality

Focuses on the quality being satisfactory or passable.

a reasonable quality

Highlights the fairness or appropriateness of the quality level.

a fair quality

Similar to "reasonable", emphasizing impartiality in the assessment.

a standard quality

Indicates the quality meets a basic requirement or expectation.

an average quality

Signifies that the quality is typical and unremarkable.

a humble quality

Focuses more on a sense of unpretentiousness than quality, but it is still a very close match.

a passable quality

Stresses that the quality barely meets the minimum requirements.

a simple quality

Emphasizes the lack of complexity or extravagance in the quality.

FAQs

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

Use "a modest quality" to describe something that has an acceptable but not outstanding level of quality. For instance, "The analysis provided "a modest quality" of evidence, sufficient for preliminary conclusions but requiring further research".

What's the difference between "a modest quality" and "a high quality"?

"A modest quality" suggests something is adequate but not exceptional, while "a high quality" indicates it is superior and meets or exceeds expectations. The former is unassuming; the latter, impressive.

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

You can use alternatives like "a decent quality", "an acceptable quality", or "a reasonable quality" depending on the context.

Is "a modest quality" positive or negative?

"A modest quality" is generally neutral. It indicates something isn't the best but is good enough for its intended purpose. Its connotation depends heavily on the specific situation; sometimes, modesty is sufficient or even desirable.