modest but important

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest but important" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that may not seem significant at first glance but holds value or importance nonetheless. Example: "The project may seem modest but important, as it addresses key issues in our community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

The meetings saw some modest but important arms control achievements.

The New York Times

Five to retain "modest but important" PSB role.

The Guardian

Just a few months ago, to take a modest but important example, the National Park Service banned snowmobiles from Yellowstone.

The New York Times

These officials say the administration has also made modest but important progress in controlling Medicare spending, the biggest debt driver.

The New York Times

Ten years have gone by since a modest but important moment in American environmental history: the dismantling of the 917-foot-wide Edwards Dam on Maine's Kennebec River.

The New York Times

Joe Hansen, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, praised the board's move, calling it "a modest but important first step toward fixing a broken process".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

To illustrate further the generality of weighted update, we incorporate the technique in two other well-known real-time heuristic search algorithms: LRTA*-LS and daLSS-LRTA*, and we empirically show significant improvements for LRTA*-LS and modest but still important improvements for daLSS-LRTA*.

Artificial Intelligence

They have social grants – modest but nonetheless important state funds for pensioners and the sick.

The Guardian

Some nonpartisan observers, however, are predicting a modest but potentially important shift to the Republicans.

The New York Times

Michael J. Zimmer, an employment discrimination professor at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, said the $3 million settlement was modest, but more important was FedEx's promise to revamp its hiring practices.

The New York Times

For UBS, the resulting gain partly offsets the $2.3 billion hole left by a rogue trader, allowing it to report a modest, but psychologically important, net profit for the quarter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "modest but important" when you want to acknowledge the seemingly small scale of something while emphasizing its significant impact or value. This phrase is particularly useful when contrasting appearance with reality.

Common error

Avoid using "modest but important" to downplay something that is, in reality, quite substantial. The 'modest' aspect should genuinely reflect a sense of understatement, not a misrepresentation of scale.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest but important" functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun. It serves to qualify the noun by acknowledging a sense of understatement or small scale, while simultaneously emphasizing the significance or value that the noun possesses. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

44%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "modest but important" is a grammatically correct and useful expression to describe something that may appear small or insignificant but has a considerable impact or value. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates that it is commonly used across various contexts, including news, media, and scientific writing. While not exceedingly frequent, its presence in authoritative sources highlights its reliability and effectiveness in conveying nuanced meaning. When employing this phrase, ensure that the 'modest' aspect genuinely reflects an understated quality rather than a misrepresentation of scale.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subtle yet significant

Replaces "modest" with "subtle", emphasizing the understated nature of the thing being described, while maintaining the core meaning of importance.

small yet considerable

Substitutes "modest" with "small" and "important" with "considerable", focusing on the size and impact respectively.

understated but crucial

Uses "understated" instead of "modest" to highlight the lack of outward display, and "crucial" to amplify the sense of importance.

unassuming yet vital

Employs "unassuming" to further emphasize the lack of pretension, while "vital" underscores the essential nature.

seemingly insignificant but essential

This alternative highlights the contrast between appearance and reality. It emphasizes that despite appearing insignificant, something is in fact essential.

limited but meaningful

Shifts the focus to the scope of something being limited, but still possessing a degree of meaning or impact.

humble yet significant

Replaces "modest" with "humble" to further emphasize a lack of arrogance or pretension, while maintaining the core meaning of importance.

simple but consequential

Uses "simple" to highlight the straightforward nature, and "consequential" to focus on the resulting effects.

slight but impactful

Changes "modest" to "slight" to highlight its small degree or amount, whereas "impactful" draws attention to the strong effect it has.

minor but indispensable

Substitutes "modest" with "minor", underscoring the small size or degree, and replaces "important" with "indispensable" to stress its necessity.

FAQs

How can I use "modest but important" in a sentence?

You can use "modest but important" to describe an action, contribution, or change that appears small but has a significant impact. For example, "The company's donation was a "modest but important" contribution to the local community".

What are some alternatives to saying "modest but important"?

Alternatives include "subtle yet significant", "small yet considerable", or "understated but crucial", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say something is both "modest" and "important"?

No, it's not redundant. The phrase highlights a contrast between perceived scale and actual impact. It's used to show that something shouldn't be dismissed because it seems insignificant.

Can "modest but important" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "modest but important" is suitable for formal writing. It clearly conveys a nuanced meaning and is found in reputable news and academic sources.