a modestly more

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modestly more" is not correct in standard written English.
It can be used when attempting to express a slight increase or enhancement in a comparative context, but it requires rephrasing for clarity. Example: "The new model is a modestly more efficient version of the previous one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But no, in the sense that Romney could have avoided almost all of his current difficulties, media bias or no, through the simple expedient of running a modestly more competent and creative campaign.

The New York Times

Applying data from his previous studies, he projected that even a modestly more adept crew could have diverted about 76percentt of each house from a landfill, salvaging more than $20,000 of materials in all.

The New York Times - Magazine

And as they cling to power in the commons, so is the commons less able to respond rationally to the challenge to its authority from Scotland and the continent of Europe, or from a judiciary awakened by both these developments and newly ready to assume (Laker, Tameside) a modestly more interpretive, continental-style role.

The Economist

He was also building a broader argument that the nation needs to shift away from the focus on shrinking the government that has dominated politics for the past several years and toward a modestly more activist agenda aimed at tackling persistent inequality and the dislocating forces of a globalized, technology-driven economy.

The New York Times

Co3 exhibits a modestly more positive CoIII/II reduction potential than Co1 and Co2 (Table S3, ESI †).

Chemical Communications

The anti-malarial drugs mefloquine and quinine exert a modestly more potent block of 5-HT3A versus 5-HT3AB receptor-mediated responses 46.

British Journal of Pharmacology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Annual memberships, which are $40 for a family and modestly more for a small-business customer, flow right to the bottom line and account for much of the warehouse store operator's profit, said Howard Davidowitz of Davidowitz & Associates of New York, a retail consulting firm.

The New York Times

He manages to hold our interest, in part because it is obvious that he has given a lot of thought to what he wants to show (and not show) and in part because each collection is a chapter in a narrative that began modestly more than 10 years ago in Antwerp, his home.

The New York Times

Though he could afford a more lavish lifestyle, Ashton lives modestly, more like a guidance counselor or high school teacher than a globetrotting DJ.

Vice

This year, he plans to spend modestly more — a few percent — than last year.

The New York Times - Tech

Young adults from broken homes in which a parent had had a same-sex relationship reported modestly more psychological and social problems in their current lives than peers from other families that had experienced divorce and other disruptions, a new study has found, stirring bitter debate among partisans on gay marriage.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, consider rephrasing "a modestly more" with alternatives like "slightly more" or "somewhat more" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a modestly more" when describing substantial improvements; it can minimize the perceived impact and mislead your audience. Opt for stronger terms like "significantly more" or "considerably more" to accurately reflect the degree of difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modestly more" functions as a modifier, specifically aiming to express a small degree of increase or superiority in comparison. However, Ludwig AI suggests that this construction is not grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a modestly more" is intended to convey a slight increase or degree of difference. Ludwig AI indicates it's not considered standard English. While understandable in context, it's often better to opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "slightly more" or "somewhat more". Ludwig's examples show it appears in various contexts, including News & Media and Science, demonstrating its use in expressing incremental differences. When aiming for precision and clarity, especially in formal writing, consider using alternative phrasings to ensure your message is accurately conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a somewhat greater

Replaces "modestly" with "somewhat" and "more" with "greater", indicating a slightly larger degree of difference.

a slightly higher

Substitutes "modestly" with "slightly" and "more" with "higher", suggesting a small upward shift in value or level.

a marginally increased

Replaces "modestly" with "marginally" and uses "increased" instead of "more", implying a minimal rise.

a tad more

Uses "a tad" to replace "a modestly", creating a more informal tone while retaining the sense of a slight increase.

a bit more

Substitutes "a modestly" with "a bit", resulting in a more casual expression of a small increment.

a little more

Replaces "modestly" with "little", simplifying the phrase and indicating a small quantity or degree.

somewhat more

Removes the article "a" and uses "somewhat" to indicate a moderate degree of increase.

slightly more

Omits the article "a" and uses "slightly" as a direct synonym for "modestly".

a touch more

Replaces "modestly" with "touch", providing a more figurative expression for a minimal addition.

ever so slightly more

Adds emphasis with "ever so slightly", underscoring the minimal nature of the increment.

FAQs

Is "a modestly more" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "a modestly more" is considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use phrases like "slightly more" or "somewhat more" for improved clarity.

How can I use "a modestly more" in a sentence correctly?

Although not ideal, you could say, "The updated version is "a modestly more" efficient design", but rephrasing with "slightly" or "somewhat" is preferable.

What's a more formal way to say "a modestly more"?

For a more formal tone, consider "a somewhat greater" or "a marginally increased" depending on the context.

What are some alternatives to "a modestly more"?

Alternatives include "a little more", "a bit more", or "a tad more" for informal contexts, and "slightly more" or "somewhat more" for neutral situations.