modest contribution to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest contribution to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a small or humble input or effort made towards a project, cause, or goal. Example: "Her modest contribution to the charity event helped raise awareness for the cause."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Favourable trends in the behavioural risk factors made a modest contribution to deaths prevented or postponed; the drop in smoking rates contributed to approximately 210 fewer deaths or 4% (table 4).

British Medical Journal

Day-to-day as well as experimenter-dependent variances were shown to contribute strongly to the variance, while dye and culturing had a relatively modest contribution to the variance.

BMC Genomics

In return, all that's expected is a modest contribution to petrol costs, or sometimes merely company.

The Guardian - Travel

If McCain wins, think of this column as a modest contribution to cheering up distraught liberals.

The New York Times

This movie might itself make a modest contribution to rewriting the history of white South Africa.

The Guardian - Film

This is not, I think, an insoluble problem, and as it happens, I have a modest contribution to offer.

The New York Times - Magazine

Magritte's modest contribution to Surrealist invention here lies in the seaside view set on an easel inside a room.

The New York Times - Arts

First, that health care, while crucial to individual survival, makes at best a modest contribution to population health.

The New York Times

The agreement was an important political milestone for the alliance but in military terms represented only a modest contribution to the efforts to stabilize Iraq.

The New York Times

In that sense, recognition of the uselessness of individual action is the very reason for making our modest contribution to the collective effort.

The Guardian - Opinion

Either way, his novel The Savage Detectives – typically considered his masterpiece – can be seen as a modest contribution to stoner literature.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "modest contribution to" when you want to downplay the significance of an action or input, maintaining humility or avoiding overstatement.

Common error

Avoid using "modest contribution to" when the actual impact is substantial. Choose a more accurate descriptor like "significant impact on" or "major contribution to" to reflect the true extent of the influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest contribution to" functions as a modifier + noun + prepositional phrase. It typically qualifies the degree or extent of an action's effect or a person's involvement. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "modest contribution to" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to denote a small, yet appreciable, impact or input. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, the expression is correct and usable in diverse written contexts. Its usage spans across various domains, including news, science, and formal communications. When using this phrase, remember that it suggests a less significant role or effect, and overstating it can be misleading. Alternatives such as ""small addition to"" or ""limited input to"" offer similar nuanced expressions. With a high expert rating, the phrase remains a valuable tool for writers aiming for accuracy and humility in their descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small addition to

Focuses on the act of adding something, emphasizing its small size.

limited input to

Highlights the restricted nature of the contribution or influence.

minor role in

Emphasizes the limited significance of the part played.

slight impact on

Focuses on the minimal effect produced.

humble input towards

Highlights the unassuming nature and direction of the contribution.

token gesture toward

Implies the contribution is symbolic and possibly insufficient.

marginal effect on

Underscores the minimal influence exerted.

nominal part in

Suggests the contribution is more in name than in substance.

inconsequential impact on

Indicates the effect is negligible or unimportant.

minimal influence on

Highlights the very small degree of sway or effect.

FAQs

How can I use "modest contribution to" in a sentence?

You can use "modest contribution to" to describe something that has a small but positive impact, such as: "Her "modest contribution to" the project helped the team meet its goals."

What are some alternatives to "modest contribution to"?

Alternatives include "small addition to", "limited input to", or "minor role in", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "modest contribution to" or "significant contribution to"?

The choice depends on the actual level of impact. Use "modest contribution to" when the effect is small, and "significant contribution to" when the effect is substantial. The phrase "significant contribution to" implies a much larger impact.

What does "modest contribution to" imply?

It implies that something has made a small, but not necessarily insignificant, difference. It's often used to downplay one's own involvement or to acknowledge that other factors played a larger role.