a modest reduction of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest reduction of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a small or moderate decrease in quantity, size, or degree of something. Example: "The company announced a modest reduction of its workforce to improve efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"What we are saying is that a modest reduction of fat and a substitution with fruits and vegetables did not do anything for heart disease and stroke or breast cancer or colorectal cancer," said Dr. Nanette K. Wenger, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

The New York Times

However, PLZF itself is not absolutely required for ILC development, despite a modest reduction of ILC2 cells in Zbtb16 −/− mice (PLZF gene) (Constantinides et al., 2014).

Protein & Cell

A multiple choice of antihypertensive drugs is available; however, a high individual variability to the antihypertensive therapy is still responsible for a modest reduction of the CV risk and not satisfactory control of blood pressure levels.

Medical Hypotheses

A modest reduction of truncated target transcript and protein was seen in cells expressing the ribozyme monomer, while nearly complete ablation of target transcript and protein occurred in cells expressing the ribozyme multimer.

Molecular Therapy

Mutations at GLS1, GLS3, and GLS4 (pDUSP1m3, pDUSP1m4, pDUshowed showed a modest reduction of glucocorticoid response (Fig. 2B).

Plosone

Treatment with CDDO resulted in a modest reduction of CLL/SBL B cells in spleen and blood.

Plosone

Forced expression of N1IC represses β-catenin signaling by over 90% whereas N2IC overexpression leads only to a modest reduction of 30% (Fig. 6C).

Plosone

Mutation of HRE5 did not affect PTPRZ1-250 promoter activity in Hep3B cells but led to a modest reduction of promoter activity in HEK293Tcells (Figure 4B).

Plosone

Indeed, a modest reduction of mortality in the case of ECTV mCD30 infected mice as compared to the parental ECTV, ECTVΔCD30 or control ECTVRevCD30 infected mice was observed.

Plosone

In agreement with this possibility, we found a modest reduction of glycogen phosphorylase (GP) activity in cells exposed to hypoxia (figure 8B).

Plosone

In clinical studies, oral contraceptives that contained progesterone [7], [8] resulted in a modest reduction of bone mineral density (BMD) that was within one standard deviation of placebo-treated controls in both the central and peripheral skeleton [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15].

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a modest reduction of", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced and by how much, even if the exact amount is not specified. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest reduction of" when the actual reduction is substantial or significant. Using "significant reduction" or "considerable decrease" would be more accurate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest reduction of" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a decrease in quantity, size, or degree, with the adjective "modest" indicating that the reduction is not substantial. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

85%

News & Media

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a modest reduction of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, primarily within scientific and news contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys a slight decrease in quantity or degree. While seemingly straightforward, it's crucial to ensure the scale of reduction is accurately portrayed and not exaggerated. Alternatives such as "a slight decrease in" or "a small lessening of" can offer subtle variations in emphasis. By adhering to these best practices, writers can utilize "a modest reduction of" with precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight decrease in

Emphasizes the small degree of reduction, focusing on the action of decreasing.

a small lessening of

Highlights the effect of making something less, suitable for abstract concepts.

a marginal decline in

Suggests the reduction is barely noticeable or significant, often in statistical contexts.

a limited curtailment of

Implies a deliberate restriction or limitation, often in formal or official settings.

a mild abatement of

Indicates a gentle or gradual reduction, particularly in intensity or severity.

a tempered lessening of

Suggests a moderated or controlled reduction, implying a deliberate adjustment.

a restrained diminishment of

Conveys a sense of controlled or limited reduction, emphasizing the restraint involved.

a measured tapering of

Implies a gradual and systematic reduction, often over a period of time.

a shallow cut in

Focuses on the idea of making a small removal, implying a less severe change.

a partial alleviation of

Highlights the incomplete nature of the reduction, suggesting only a portion is relieved.

FAQs

How can I use "a modest reduction of" in a sentence?

You can use "a modest reduction of" to describe a slight decrease in something. For example, "The new policy resulted in "a modest reduction of" carbon emissions."

What are some alternatives to "a modest reduction of"?

Some alternatives include "a slight decrease in", "a small lessening of", or "a marginal decline in", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a modest reduction of" or "a significant reduction of"?

The choice depends on the extent of the reduction. Use "a modest reduction of" when the decrease is small or moderate. Use "a significant reduction of" when the decrease is substantial.

What's the difference between "a modest reduction of" and "a moderate reduction of"?

While similar, "modest" suggests a slightly smaller degree of reduction compared to "moderate". Both indicate a non-extreme decrease, but "modest" implies less impact.