modest losses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modest losses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe losses that are relatively small or not significant in scale, often in financial or business contexts. Example: "Despite the challenges faced this quarter, the company reported modest losses, which were better than anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

European markets recovered most of an early decline and closed with modest losses.

The New York Times

Stocks edged higher on Wall Street, erasing the market's modest losses from a day earlier.

The Washington Post

The vast majority of the remaining 280,000 will incur modest losses of £200 a year.

The Guardian

A1 Wall Street Still Sliding The major stock indexes posted modest losses for the day.

The New York Times

Stocks are higher on Wall Street in midday trading, erasing the market's modest losses from a day earlier.

The Washington Post

NEW YORK — Stocks closed slightly higher on Wall Street Tuesday, erasing the market's modest losses from a day earlier.

The Washington Post

The modest losses extended the losing streak for the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index to four days.

The New York Times

(O'Brien told the Times last year that the club was on target for "modest losses," owing to startup costs).

The New Yorker

Then they slowly and steadily recovered and finished with only modest losses at the end of the day.

The New York Times

But had Hamanaka been a bit more flexible and realistic, Sumitomo could have walked away from the copper market with modest losses offset by enormous, ill-gotten gains.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stocks finished a wobbly day of trading on Wall Street Wednesday with modest losses that erased most of the market's slight gains from a day earlier.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "modest losses" to downplay negative financial results or to provide context that the losses are not significant.

Common error

Avoid using "modest losses" when the actual losses are substantial, as this can mislead the audience and damage credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest losses" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an object or complement within a sentence. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig show its use in financial and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "modest losses" is a noun phrase used to describe financial setbacks that are relatively small or insignificant. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is commonly employed in news, business, and financial contexts to downplay the severity of negative outcomes. While grammatically sound, it is important to use the phrase accurately and avoid misrepresenting the true scale of any losses. Alternatives like "slight deficits" or "minor setbacks" can be used depending on the context. Overall, understanding the nuances of this phrase can help ensure clear and accurate communication in various professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slight deficits

Indicates losses that are small in amount, focusing on the financial aspect.

Minor setbacks

Refers to small hindrances or reverses in progress, not necessarily financial.

Small shortfalls

Highlights a deficit or insufficiency that is limited in scope.

Marginal declines

Emphasizes a slight decrease or reduction in value or quantity.

Limited reductions

Focuses on the small scale of the decrease or reduction.

Nominal impairments

Suggests losses that are so small they are almost negligible.

Trivial deficits

Implies that the losses are insignificant and of little consequence.

Slight underperformance

Describes a situation where the expected outcome was not fully achieved, but the difference is small.

Minimal erosion

Focuses on a gradual and very small wearing away or decline.

Insignificant downturn

Highlights that there's a slight decline in a business or economy.

FAQs

How can I use "modest losses" in a sentence?

You can use "modest losses" to describe situations where financial setbacks are small or not significant. For example: "Despite the market volatility, the company reported only "modest losses"."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "modest losses"?

Alternatives include "slight deficits", "minor setbacks", or "small shortfalls", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "modest losses" when describing significant financial setbacks?

No, using "modest losses" to describe substantial financial setbacks would be misleading. It is best to accurately represent the scale of the losses.

What is the difference between "modest losses" and "significant losses"?

"Modest losses" indicates that the financial setbacks are relatively small and manageable, while "significant losses" implies that the setbacks are substantial and potentially concerning.