in all modesty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in all modesty" is an appropriate and useful phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to make an honest statement about yourself without seeming overly proud or boastful. For example: "I think I did a good job on the project, in all modesty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"It had, in all modesty, some beautiful mathematics in it — it's really nineteenth-century mathematics.

The New Yorker

In November 1939 Adolf Hitler said: "I must in all modesty describe my own person: irreplaceable".

The Guardian - Books

"It had, in all modesty, some beautiful mathematics in it it's really nineteenth-century mathematics.

The New Yorker

"In all modesty," she says, with some pride, "I'm not always the easiest person to get on with".

The New York Times - Books

The most she can do, in all modesty, is to offer indications and observations; the people, thus empowered, must do the rest.

The Economist

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet Carolyn Gilbert has no trouble remembering where she was when she came up with what, in all modesty, she still regards as an excellent idea — the First Great Obituary Writers Conferencee.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

She stands, all modesty in her long sleeves and skirt, and takes the hem of her skirt in her hand and walks out into the still water, raising the skirt as she goes so it won't get soaked.

The New Yorker

So it turns out Lanci, in all his tofu modesty, is a genuine trend setter a new brand of corporate athlete.

Forbes

In all fairness, the modesty of Harkin's proposal is most likely driven by the Tea Party's bloodless coup of Congress, making serious reform unlikely.

HuffPost

In ruminating over personal experience and confronting how private memories have -- although, in all of their modesty, they might not admit it -- inspired trends, the conversation turned to the nature of trends and their somewhat disparate relationship with memory.

HuffPost

All those things, in modesty, are what I have tried to convey".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in all modesty" when you want to express a potentially self-praising statement while downplaying your own importance. It's useful for creating a tone of humility and approachability.

Common error

Avoid using "in all modesty" too frequently, as it can start to sound insincere or even sarcastic. Use it sparingly for maximum impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in all modesty" functions as a discourse marker or adverbial phrase. It serves to temper a potentially boastful statement, framing it with an expression of humility. Ludwig's examples show it often precedes a statement of personal accomplishment or skill.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in all modesty" is a useful tool for expressing self-praise without sounding arrogant. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and appropriate phrase. While it appears most frequently in News & Media, it can also be found in academic and formal contexts. It's important to use it judiciously to avoid sounding insincere. Alternatives like "with all due respect" or "if I may say so myself" can provide similar nuance in different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with all due respect

Emphasizes respect while potentially disagreeing or offering a contrasting opinion.

if I may say so myself

Directly acknowledges that the speaker is making a potentially boastful statement.

without boasting

Explicitly states the intention to avoid bragging while highlighting a positive attribute.

not to brag

Similar to 'without boasting', but slightly more informal.

I must say

Introduces a personal opinion or observation, often with a hint of surprise or emphasis.

it is fair to say

Suggests that a statement is generally accepted or reasonable.

I dare say

Expresses a mild degree of confidence or agreement.

in my estimation

Indicates that the following statement is a personal assessment or judgment.

to my knowledge

Limits the scope of a statement to the speaker's personal awareness.

as far as I can tell

Indicates that a statement is based on the speaker's current understanding or perception.

FAQs

How can I use "in all modesty" in a sentence?

You can use "in all modesty" to preface a statement that might otherwise sound arrogant. For example, "In all modesty, I believe I handled that situation quite well."

What are some alternatives to "in all modesty"?

Some alternatives include "with all due respect", "if I may say so myself", or "without boasting". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "in all modesty"?

It is appropriate to use "in all modesty" when you want to make a statement about your skills, accomplishments, or opinions without sounding boastful. It's a way to soften the impact of a potentially arrogant claim.

What's the difference between "in all modesty" and false modesty?

"In all modesty" is used to genuinely downplay one's own importance, while false modesty involves making self-deprecating statements to elicit praise or admiration. The key difference is sincerity.