declined modestly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declined modestly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has decreased or reduced in a slight or moderate manner, often in a financial or statistical context. Example: "The company's profits declined modestly over the last quarter, indicating a need for strategic adjustments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

The broader market declined modestly.

The New York Times

Oil declined modestly, and gold fell.

The New York Times

"Print circulation revenue declined modestly," Hywood said.

The Guardian

Short-term borrowing costs also declined modestly for some European governments and banks.

The New York Times

Short- and long-term interest rates declined modestly yesterday in light trading activity.

The New York Times

It peaked at 9,154 in 1970 and has since declined modestly.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Indeed, average costs are expected to decline modestly this winter.

The New York Times

National macroeconomic outcomes decline modestly, including reductions in annual gross domestic product of between 0.1 and 0.2percentt in the 2020s.

Columbia University

The numbers from France are also expected to decline modestly with manufacturing slipping back to 54.5 from 54.9 and services to come in at 55.9, down from 56.0.

The Guardian - Business

The UnitedHealth Group cut its 2007 revenue forecast yesterday after determining that membership in its full-service Medicare plans for older patients would probably decline "modestly" this year.

The New York Times

Players tend to improve marginally from 25 to 26 to 27 and decline modestly from 27 to 28 to 29, but the changes are relatively small.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends in data or statistics, use "declined modestly" to indicate a small but noticeable decrease, providing context for further analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "declined modestly" when the decrease is significant. Use stronger terms like "plummeted" or "decreased substantially" for larger changes to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined modestly" primarily functions as a verb phrase complemented by an adverb, modifying the verb to indicate the manner of decline. Ludwig AI shows that it often describes changes in quantifiable data. This construction specifies that something has decreased to a limited extent.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

19%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "declined modestly" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a slight decrease, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most frequently found in news articles, academic papers, and scientific publications. The phrase is useful for maintaining a neutral and objective tone when discussing trends or statistics. Related phrases include "decreased slightly" and "fell gently". When using this phrase, ensure the decrease is not overstated and that stronger language is used for significant reductions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased slightly

Replaces "declined" with "decreased" and "modestly" with "slightly", both conveying a small reduction.

fell gently

Substitutes "declined" with "fell" and "modestly" with "gently", suggesting a gradual decrease.

reduced marginally

Uses "reduced" instead of "declined" and "marginally" in place of "modestly", indicating a small amount of reduction.

diminished subtly

Replaces "declined" with "diminished" and "modestly" with "subtly", both implying a slight decrease.

eased slightly

Substitutes "declined" with "eased" and "modestly" with "slightly", suggesting a gentle decrease.

slipped slightly

Uses "slipped" instead of "declined" and "slightly" in place of "modestly", indicating a small downward movement.

receded a bit

Replaces "declined modestly" with "receded a bit", conveying a small retreat or decrease.

lessened moderately

Substitutes "declined" with "lessened" and "modestly" with "moderately", implying a limited reduction.

softened a little

Uses "softened" instead of "declined modestly", indicating a slight weakening or decrease.

tempered slightly

Replaces "declined" with "tempered" and "modestly" with "slightly", suggesting a mild reduction or moderation.

FAQs

How can I use "declined modestly" in a sentence?

You can use "declined modestly" to describe a slight decrease in something. For example, "The company's profits "declined modestly" due to increased competition".

What's a synonym for "declined modestly"?

Alternatives to "declined modestly" include "decreased slightly", "fell gently", or "reduced marginally".

Is it appropriate to use "declined modestly" in formal writing?

Yes, "declined modestly" is suitable for formal writing, especially when describing trends or statistics. It conveys a precise and neutral tone.

What's the difference between "declined modestly" and "declined significantly"?

"Declined modestly" indicates a small decrease, while "declined significantly" suggests a substantial reduction. The choice depends on the magnitude of the change you're describing.