modest alteration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest alteration" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or minor change made to something, often in a formal or technical context. Example: "The report required a modest alteration to improve clarity and accuracy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

We find that a modest alteration of an initially 'scale-free' network can usefully improve robustness against attack, particularly when the fraction of attacked nodes is small, and we identify modification schemes that are most effective for this purpose.

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications

By this view, the protein world ought to consist of one structural archetype put to many different uses, each involving modest alteration of peripheral structure but no major reorganization of the fold.

Plosone

The single-dose level of PPARpan induced a modest alteration in gene expression.

Environmental Health Perspectives

This demonstrates that even modest alteration to the molecule indeed can increase antibiotic efficacy.

ACS Synthetic Biology

Thus, a modest alteration of RYGB criteria to include this population would have far-reaching implications for diabetes care.

Diabetes Care

Thus, despite of this modest alteration in DC frequency, we could not identify a major aberration in CR samples of ITD+ AML patients as a whole.

Annals of Hematology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Through the 1930s, he did a series of modest alterations, like many major architects.

The New York Times

Although there have been controversies over particular changes in diagnostic descriptions, he said, the new revision involves "mostly modest alterations" from its predecessor.

The New York Times

After a panic at the turn of the millennium about the impact on their industry of online shopping, bricks-and-mortar stores settled into making only modest alterations to their business model or, ostrich-like, trying to ignore it.

The Economist

Operations on the basis of the solution space permit modest alterations of the transients toward the target steady state.

Mathematical Biosciences

Similarly, comparison of the RB-proficient, naïve and recurred cells (GFP Recurred vs. GFP Naïve) indicated relatively modest alterations in gene expression.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "modest alteration" when you want to emphasize the limited scope or impact of a change. This can be useful in technical or scientific writing where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "modest alteration" when the actual change is substantial or transformative. Overstating the degree of modesty can mislead the reader about the true impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest alteration" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "modest" modifies the noun "alteration". As Ludwig AI highlights, it's used to describe changes that are small in scale or impact.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

82%

News & Media

18%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "modest alteration" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a change that is small in scale or impact. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in science and news contexts, suggesting a formal and often scientific register. Alternatives include ""slight change"" or "minor modification". When using this phrase, ensure that the adjective "modest" accurately reflects the extent of the change to avoid overstating its significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight change

Focuses on the degree of difference introduced.

minor modification

Emphasizes the act of changing something slightly.

small adjustment

Highlights the act of fine-tuning.

subtle variation

Implies a difference that may not be immediately obvious.

gentle shift

Suggests a gradual and smooth change.

limited adjustment

Highlights the boundary/scope of the alteration.

marginal difference

Emphasizes the insignificance of the change.

insignificant change

Underscores the lack of importance of the change.

minimal adjustment

Highlights the small degree of change.

incremental change

Focuses on the step-by-step nature of the alteration.

FAQs

How can I use "modest alteration" in a sentence?

You can use "modest alteration" to describe a slight or minor change made to something, as in "The design required only a "slight change" to be effective."

What's the difference between "modest alteration" and "significant change"?

"Modest alteration" refers to a small or minor change, while "significant change" implies a substantial or important difference. Use "modest alteration" when the impact is limited, and "significant change" when the impact is considerable.

Are there any synonyms for "modest alteration"?

Yes, alternatives include "minor modification", "small adjustment", or "slight variation", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a modest alteration was made"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. For example: "A minor modification was made to the experimental protocol to improve accuracy."