modest charge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest charge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or reasonable fee for a service or product. Example: "The workshop will be offered at a modest charge to encourage more participants to join."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The new secretary must persuade visitors that the quality of the experience merits a modest charge.

The New York Times

During early September, temporary accommodations are available in student residence halls at a modest charge for students searching for off-campus housing for Autumn Quarter.

Stanford University

Suzette, the hugely likeable cook, will make fantastic local meals for a modest charge, but otherwise guests share the huge kitchen and living room.

The Guardian - Travel

I will detail several puzzling physical features of these perovskites, which include long diffusion lengths despite modest charge mobility and very sharp absorption characteristics despite large dynamical (and presumably) static disorder.

University of California, Berkeley

"There will be a modest charge for the Champions League, we've been very consistent on that, but it will fit within the scope of the overall strategy of bringing sport back to the people".

The Guardian

Even a modest charge would raise substantial revenues about $28 billion in the first year, and about $250 billion a year after a decade and could help reduce the national debt while avoiding many of the negative economic consequences of taxing individual or corporate incomes.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Now Americans are facing a new threat: having stepped gingerly into the waters of monthly fees with relatively modest charges, the biggest banks are beginning to increase their rates.

The New York Times

Improvements include less convenient charger spots, an octopus charger in the middle of the parking lot, modest charging fees to foster turnover, chargers that indicate an EV is charged, education and legislation about etiquette cards, and legislation that allows an individual to unplug another's charged EV.

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice

Instead of reducing the number of user charges for the NHS, the government ought to be following the example of Sweden, where a range of modest charges for treatment provide around 10% of the country's health funding without any apparent ill-effects.Some of the extra education spending will go on reducing class sizes to below 30 for children aged up to seven.

The Economist

As a point of reference, Modest charged a monthly fee to its larger customers — $200 — and a percentage of transactions for smaller businesses.

TechCrunch

And there is another concern he thinks should be examined, the administrative cost for public authorities, or "Has FOI placed an extra burden out of proportion to the public good?" "Post-legislative scrutiny should look at the international comparison and whether modest charging would have an effect and would it be beneficial," he adds.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing fees for services or admissions, use "modest charge" to convey that the cost is reasonable and unlikely to deter potential customers or participants.

Common error

While "modest charge" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal documents. Opt for more precise language like "reasonable fee" or "nominal cost" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest charge" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "modest" is an adjective modifying the noun "charge". Ludwig examples show it's used to describe fees or costs that are considered small and reasonable. This aligns with Ludwig AI feedback that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "modest charge" is a noun phrase used to describe a small and reasonable fee, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including news, academia, and business. While not exceedingly common, its usage is consistent and its intent is to convey affordability and fairness. For alternative phrasings, consider "small fee" or "reasonable fee". Remember to avoid overuse in excessively formal documents to maintain a polished tone. Top sources employing this expression include The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Economist, highlighting its acceptance in reputable publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small fee

Replaces "modest" with "small", emphasizing the low cost.

reasonable fee

Substitutes "modest" with "reasonable", highlighting the fairness of the cost.

nominal fee

Uses "nominal" to indicate a very small or symbolic charge.

slight fee

Replaces "modest" with "slight", suggesting a minimal cost.

low cost

Replaces "charge" with "cost", focusing on the expense.

minimal price

Uses "minimal price" to describe a very low cost.

affordable fee

Highlights that the fee is within an acceptable price range for most people.

small payment

Focuses on the act of paying a small amount.

marginal cost

Suggests that the cost is so low as to be almost negligible.

token fee

Implies that the fee is symbolic and not intended to cover the full cost.

FAQs

What does "modest charge" mean?

A "modest charge" refers to a small or reasonable fee for a service or product, intended to be affordable and not overly burdensome.

What can I say instead of "modest charge"?

You can use alternatives like "small fee", "reasonable fee", or "nominal fee" depending on the context.

Is "modest charge" the same as "small fee"?

While similar, "modest charge" implies that the fee is appropriate for the value received, whereas "small fee" simply indicates a low cost.

How do I use "modest charge" in a sentence?

Example: "The museum charges a "modest charge" for admission to help maintain its exhibits."