modest broad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest broad" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a person or concept that is both modest and broad in scope, but the combination is awkward and unclear. Example: "Her modest broad approach to the project allowed for diverse input from all team members."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The goal of tuition affordability is ill served by touting some of the most expensive institutions in the country while ignoring more modest broad access colleges and universities that also, by the way, have lower prices.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The two peptides showed a modest broad-spectrum activity against planktonic strains (MIC equal to 12.5 mg/ml).

AMB Express

The gains were modest but broad, with utilities rising the most, up 1.4%.

The Guardian - Business

The resultant triazole containing molecules show modest, but broad spectrum activities against drug sensitive and resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with no observable cytotoxicity.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters

Investors apparently added up the Fed statement and the tame PCE data to create a modest but broad lift in U.S. markets.

Forbes

Its comparison between its last evaluation in 2006 and today showed a modest but broad improvement in test results across the majority of Latin American countries.

BBC

There is something about the site's modest interface and broad reach that inspires an often-goofy creativity.

The New York Times - Tech

Break Away's modest budget precludes broad outreach efforts, "but we're still getting floods of calls," he said.

The New York Times

The extent to which other electron-donating substituents will favor [3 + 3]-cycloaddition is yet to be determined, but replacement of the silyl ether by hydrogen (but not phenyl) in reactions with an isoquinolinium methylide (Scheme 14) that produces the [3 + 3]-cycloaddition product exclusively in modest yield suggests broad application.

Accounts of Chemical Research

The growth in the money under management, while modest, reflects a broader trend in the industry, which has seen large managers attract assets at a faster pace than smaller firms.

The New York Times

"Although the pace of expansion remains below that seen at the start of the year, suggesting the sector will remain only a modest contributor to broader economic growth, it is positive to see the sector break its recent sequence of slower growth," Dobson added.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to describe something as both "modest" and "broad", consider whether a different phrasing might be clearer. Try rephrasing to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "modest broad impact", consider "significant yet understated impact".

Common error

Avoid directly combining adjectives that don't typically collocate. "Modest" usually refers to size or degree, while "broad" refers to scope. Using them together can sound awkward. If you are writing about scope, but you mean to indicate that the scope is not too ambitious you can say "reasonable scope".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest broad" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, attempting to modify a noun by indicating two qualities. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this combination is not typical and may lack clarity. It is important to note that adjectives should be carefully chosen so that they don't sound out of place.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

24%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "modest broad" is an uncommon and potentially confusing combination of adjectives. While intending to convey a sense of something being limited in scale yet wide in scope, it often lacks clarity and can sound awkward, as Ludwig AI notes. Analysis of its usage reveals a mixed presence across news, science, and general contexts, but its infrequent occurrence suggests a need for careful consideration when writing. For improved clarity, consider alternatives like "limited but extensive" or "humble and expansive", ensuring that the chosen phrase accurately reflects the intended meaning and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

humble and expansive

Replaces "modest" with "humble" and "broad" with "expansive", emphasizing humility and wide scope.

unassuming and wide-ranging

Uses "unassuming" instead of "modest" and "wide-ranging" for "broad", suggesting humility and extensive reach.

moderate and comprehensive

Substitutes "modest" with "moderate" and "broad" with "comprehensive", focusing on balance and thoroughness.

limited but extensive

Replaces "modest" with "limited", highlighting constraints while maintaining the idea of broad coverage.

restrained yet encompassing

Uses "restrained" for "modest" and "encompassing" for "broad", suggesting control and inclusion.

simple but far-reaching

Replaces "modest" with "simple" and "broad" with "far-reaching", focusing on simplicity and widespread effect.

understated and generalized

Uses "understated" for "modest" and "generalized" for "broad", suggesting subtlety and wide application.

small-scale but inclusive

Replaces "modest" with "small-scale" and "broad" with "inclusive", emphasizing limited scope and broad participation.

reserved and all-embracing

Substitutes "modest" with "reserved" and "broad" with "all-embracing", suggesting restraint and complete inclusion.

gentle yet extensive

Uses "gentle" for "modest" and "extensive" for "broad", focusing on mildness and wide reach.

FAQs

Is "modest broad" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "modest broad" is an unusual combination that may sound awkward or unclear to native English speakers. It's best to rephrase for clarity.

What can I say instead of "modest broad" to describe something that is limited in scale but wide in scope?

Consider alternatives such as "limited but extensive" or "small-scale but inclusive" to convey a similar meaning with better clarity.

How can I rewrite a sentence that uses "modest broad" to improve its clarity?

Instead of "The project had a modest broad impact", try "The project's impact was "significant yet understated"" or "The project had a limited but extensive reach".

What is the difference between "modest broad" and "humble and expansive"?

"Modest broad" is an uncommon collocation and can be confusing. "Humble and expansive" might be clearer, emphasizing humility and wide scope, but still might sound unusual.