modest attendance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest attendance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the number of attendees at an event is lower than expected or considered small. Example: "The conference had a modest attendance this year, with only a few dozen participants showing up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Many speakers blamed the media, "ethnic special-interest lobbies" and liberals, among others, for the modest attendance.

The New York Times

Despite the seemingly modest attendance, there were complaints about the long wait for certain rides at the weekend.

The Guardian - Business

In some ways, the modest attendance and the closed-off sections of the ballpark only add to the underdog image of the team itself.

The New York Times - Sports

Although Major League Baseball saw attendance drop by 26 percent after the 1994 strike, the N.H.L. had modest attendance gains in the immediate aftermath of its previous lockouts.

The New York Times - Sports

After playing in front of sell-out crowds in Rochdale and Huddersfield, Ireland are expecting a modest attendance of around 6,000 in the rugby union stronghold of Limerick for a match that is expected to produce a runaway victory for the Kangaroos.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Zoo Boise gets only 325,000 visitors each year, fairly modest compared with attendance at larger city zoos.

The New York Times

They returned from Germany to acclaim and the league experienced a modest bump in attendance as the Western New York Flash, based in Rochester, won the championship.

The New York Times - Sports

At Pindar Vineyards in Peconic on the North Fork, Dr. Dan Damianos, the owner, has noticed a modest increase in attendance on tours and at wine-tasting events.

The New York Times

And over five years, the museum has indeed achieved a modest success: Annual attendance has more than doubled since its opening year.

The New York Times - Arts

But the reality is that in recent years, the public schools in Newark have made modest improvements in attendance and graduation rates, achieved higher scores on statewide tests in the elementary grades, and upgraded teacher training programs.

The New York Times

As Major League Baseball returns today from its All-Star Game break, most teams have shown a modest decline in attendance so far this season and there is concern that total ticket sales for the season might fall for the third consecutive year.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events, use "modest attendance" to objectively state that the number of attendees was relatively small, without necessarily implying a negative connotation. For a more negative assessment, consider "poor turnout."

Common error

Avoid using "modest attendance" when you intend to express strong disappointment or failure. While it indicates a small number, it doesn't inherently convey negativity. Use stronger terms like "abysmal turnout" or "dismal attendance" to express stronger disapproval.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest attendance" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "modest" modifies the noun "attendance". As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase to describe the size of a gathering.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "modest attendance" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for describing a smaller-than-expected number of attendees at an event. As Ludwig AI points out, it serves as an objective descriptor, fitting comfortably within neutral registers like news reporting and formal writing. Alternative phrases such as "low turnout" or "limited participation" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When choosing an alternative, consider the specific context and the desired level of negativity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimal attendance

Replaces "modest" with "minimal", indicating a very small attendance.

low turnout

Uses "turnout" instead of "attendance", focusing on the number of people who showed up.

meager attendance

Emphasizes the insufficiency of the attendance.

small gathering

Shifts the focus to the gathering itself being small, implying low attendance.

limited participation

Highlights the restricted number of participants.

poor showing

Indicates an unsatisfactory number of attendees.

sparse crowd

Describes the crowd as thinly populated, implying low attendance.

underwhelming attendance

Emphasizes the disappointment in the attendance numbers.

thinly attended

Directly describes the event as having few attendees.

limited audience

Focuses on the audience size being small.

FAQs

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

You can use "modest attendance" to describe an event where the number of attendees was smaller than expected. For example: "Despite the advertising efforts, the conference experienced "modest attendance"."

What's the difference between "modest attendance" and "low attendance"?

"Modest attendance" and "low attendance" are similar, but "modest" suggests a more understated or neutral observation, while "low" might imply a more negative assessment of the attendance figures.

What are some alternatives to using "modest attendance"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "limited participation", "small crowd", or "poor showing" instead of "modest attendance".

Is "modest attendance" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "modest attendance" is suitable for formal writing as it is a neutral and objective way to describe the size of an audience or the number of participants at an event.