had a modest effect on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a modest effect on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to describe a situation in which a particular action only had a small, limited effect. For example, "The new tax policy had a modest effect on the nation's economic growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our results demonstrated that tamoxifen on its own was not effective at suppressing ER-negative tumour growth, whereas EGCG had a modest effect on tumour growth, but the combination of the two drugs showed marked tumour suppression.

British Journal of Cancer

Strategies to promote nutritional intake have had a modest effect on protein-calorie intake.

Australian Critical Care

Replacement of RNA2 CDS with GFP CDS had a modest effect on translatability (Fig. 1b, lane 10).

Nature

The mutation did, however, affect CP190 recruitment to specific Drosophila insulator elements and had a modest effect on dCTCF chromatin association.

Princeton University

No significant differences were noted in the number of adverse events as well as the rate of medication discontinuation due to sedation or dizziness (placebo, 42 of 202 [20.8%]; gabapentin, 52 of 208 [25.0%]).Perioperative administration of gabapentin had no effect on postoperative pain resolution, but it had a modest effect on promoting opioid cessation after surgery.

Stanford University

A $300 billion business tax break pitched as a way to boost hiring and wages had a modest effect on employment, no effect on wages and probably has accelerated the rate at which companies are able to replace workers with machines, according to a new working paper by researchers at Duke University and Grinnell College.

The Washington Post

LEV had a modest effect on reducing CSD susceptibility at a dose of 400mg/kg/d, and the effects on CSD susceptibility were comparable when administered acutely or chronically.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Many things were changing for Chilean schools during this period, including the distribution of students (and hence potential peer effects) and levels of funding.23 Taken at face value, however, these findings suggest that competition had a modest effect on average school productivity.24.24

Latin American Economic Review

While the study had a strong placebo effect, she said she still thought the herbal supplement had a "modest effect on hot flashes".

Huffington Post

Also, the haplotype GAAC had a modest effect on urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio in normotensive subjects (p = 0.0482).

Plosone

The presence of 3 mM GdnHCl had a modest effect on cell reproduction, with cells reproducing more slowly in the presence of GdnHCl.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had a modest effect on", consider quantifying the effect if possible to provide more context and clarity for the reader. For example, instead of saying "The new policy had a modest effect on unemployment", you could say "The new policy had a modest effect on unemployment, reducing it by 0.5%."

Common error

Avoid using "had a modest effect on" when the impact was actually significant. Ensure that the descriptor accurately reflects the magnitude of the change or result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a modest effect on" functions as a verb phrase expressing causation or influence. It indicates that a specific action or factor resulted in a small, limited change or impact. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Many examples in Ludwig illustrate its role in describing research findings, policy outcomes, or treatment results.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

80%

Academia

10%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had a modest effect on" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe situations where an action or factor produces a limited impact. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread use across diverse domains, especially within scientific research, academic publications, and news reporting. While "modest" indicates a small effect, it's crucial to ensure the descriptor accurately represents the situation without overstating the impact. For alternatives, consider "had a slight effect on" or "had a limited effect on" depending on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a slight effect on

This alternative suggests an even smaller impact than "modest".

had a modest impact on

Uses the word "impact" instead of "effect", but maintains the same meaning.

demonstrated a modest effect on

This phrase emphasizes the evidence supporting the limited impact.

had a limited effect on

The word "limited" emphasizes the constrained nature of the impact.

had a small effect on

A more direct and simple way of saying the effect was not large.

had a marginal effect on

This suggests the effect was barely noticeable or significant.

had a minimal effect on

Indicates the effect was the least possible.

had a mild effect on

Suggests a gentle or moderate impact.

had a little effect on

A more informal way to express a small impact.

had a negligible effect on

This suggests that the effect was so small it was almost nonexistent.

FAQs

How can I use "had a modest effect on" in a sentence?

Use "had a modest effect on" to describe something that produced a small or limited change. For instance, "The new training program "had a modest effect on" employee productivity."

What's the difference between "had a modest effect on" and "had a significant effect on"?

"Had a modest effect on" indicates a small or limited impact, while "had a significant effect on" implies a notable and substantial impact. The choice depends on the actual magnitude of the change.

What are some alternatives to "had a modest effect on"?

You can use alternatives like "had a slight effect on", "had a limited effect on", or "had a small effect on" depending on the context.

Is "had a modest effect on" formal or informal?

"Had a modest effect on" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. It's a neutral expression commonly used in academic, professional, and general contexts.