modest estimate of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest estimate of" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase can be used when you want to describe an estimate that is considered to be lower than what it should or could be. For example: "The company's modest estimate of $2 million is likely to be too low for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Capgemini and Merrill Lynch come up with a more modest estimate of about $43 trillion.

The Economist

For a single student living off campus in the 2019 2020 academic year, a reasonable, albeit modest, estimate of total cost may be estimated by the following costs to be $77,050 for all students.

Yale University

For a time he refused to play the violin for charity because of his modest estimate of his own ability, and because he thought it unfair to professionals; under pressure, however, he gave many recitals.

The New Yorker

Another scientific team, which analyzed satellite images, has come up with a somewhat more modest estimate of 12,600 to 21,500 barrels a day, just a slight uptick from the team's earlier finding.

The Washington Post

Last weekend, the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, said that the country faced a power shortage of 11% of demand and he was taking a very modest estimate of demand.

The Economist

It has only recently been attributed to him, having languished in a private collection until 2007, when it was bought at auction for £2.2m – rather more than the modest estimate of £1,500 – as it was no longer seen as a copy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

If so that's above the more modest estimates of 600,000-800,000 that were expected, and a creditable follow-up to the record 1.8m crowd of 2009.

The Guardian

The intra-class correlations for the four self-assessment variables showed modest estimates of 0.02 to 0.03, indicating that only small between-classroom effects could be found in the data.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

The early promise of VDI hasn't really played out in practice, and pretty much all of the analysts ended up revising their now obviously optimistic predictions of 40% or more of desktops becoming virtual to more modest estimates of 10-to-20 10-to-20 10-to-20

Forbes

A Nigerian study which used a national data obtained Gini coefficients of 0.50, 0.53 and 0.60 for 1992 , 1996and 2000 respectively [7] compared to more modest estimates of 0.39, 0.45, 0.47, 0.40 and 0.43 for 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010 respectively by the World Bank [9] as shown in Figure 1.

Health Economics Review

Advocates of the friction cost approach come-up with relatively modest estimates of productivity losses, whereas those using the human capital approach may easily reach estimates that are ten to hundred times higher than those generated by frictionists.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "modest estimate of", ensure the context implies that the actual value or quantity could be higher. This sets a clear expectation that the figure is a lower bound rather than an exact value.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "modest estimate of" as a definitive or precise value. This phrase inherently suggests a degree of uncertainty and potential for a higher actual figure. Using it in contexts requiring exact numbers can mislead the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest estimate of" functions as a qualifier, introducing a value or quantity that is considered to be conservatively assessed. As Ludwig AI shows, it is used across diverse contexts to indicate a lower boundary.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "modest estimate of" is a useful phrase when you want to present a conservative figure, suggesting that the actual value could be higher. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and used across different contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, it is important to ensure that the context aligns with its implied meaning of uncertainty or understatement. Remember to avoid presenting it as a definitive value, as this can mislead your audience. Alternatives such as "conservative calculation of" or "low-end estimate of" can be used to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conservative calculation of

Emphasizes a cautious and deliberately low calculation.

low-end estimate of

Suggests the lowest possible value within a range of estimates.

rough approximation of

Indicates a less precise and more general estimate.

conservative appraisal of

Focuses on a careful and moderate evaluation or assessment.

tentative assessment of

Highlights the preliminary and uncertain nature of the assessment.

understated valuation of

Implies the valuation is deliberately lower than the actual worth.

nominal figure for

Suggests the figure is a basic or face-value representation.

ballpark figure for

Denotes an approximate and broad estimate.

preliminary guesstimate of

Emphasizes the speculative and initial nature of the estimate.

soft estimation of

Suggests a flexible and non-definitive estimate.

FAQs

How can I use "modest estimate of" in a sentence?

You can use "modest estimate of" to introduce a value that is likely lower than the actual value. For instance, "A "modest estimate of" the damages would be around $1 million."

What is a good substitute for "modest estimate of"?

Alternatives include "conservative calculation of", "low-end estimate of", or "rough approximation of", depending on the context and the desired nuance.

Is it appropriate to use "modest estimate of" in formal writing?

Yes, "modest estimate of" is appropriate for formal writing when you want to convey that a figure is likely an understatement or a lower bound. However, ensure that the context warrants the implied uncertainty.

What does "modest estimate of" imply about the actual value?

Using "modest estimate of" implies that the actual value is probably higher than the stated estimate. It suggests caution in presenting a potentially larger figure while still providing a reasonable approximation.