modestly asking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modestly asking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to convey a sense of humility or politeness while making a request. Example: "I am modestly asking for your support in this project, as it would mean a lot to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

5. WARREN ZEVON: 'THE WIND' -- (Artemis) Made by a dying man, "The Wind" cracks jokes, rocks awhile, quietly stares down death and makes fond farewells, modestly asking, "Keep me in your heart for a while".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

At the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising in the Polish capital on Aug. 1, 1994, he modestly asked the Polish people "for forgiveness for what Germans did to you".

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I only hope these songs inspire people," he said modestly, when asked about his expectations for his CD and video.

The New York Times - Style

How he approaches them so modestly, just asks them to stop and watch what he's doing, and then proceeds to completely blow their minds.

The Guardian

Mr. Milanaik said that "to gain some momentum," his company had lowered its asking rent modestly at the larger of the two new buildings to $4.80 to $4.90 a square foot annually from slightly more than $5.

The New York Times

I asked, modestly, for a few notes.

Independent

One person said in mock outrage, "I can't believe you're asking that!" Marilyn ducked her head modestly and told me, "I dare not say".

Huffington Post

Ms. Burton did this despite the fact that she was living so modestly, she used to ask taxi drivers taking her home late at night to drop her at the corner, to save the cost of circling around the block to her front door.

The New York Times

I like the way that Dory's friend Elliott John Earlyy), when asked a modestly probing question about his plans as the founder of a self-righteous bottled-water startup, chirps that he's trying to "start the conversation" as a conversation-closing dodge.

The New Yorker

Had she not been educated, who would have supported me?" asks Manizha modestly who wants to become a math teacher in the future.

Unicef

In the example of recovery from jet lag, one can ask some modestly ambitious questions as a starting point for understanding mechanisms of resynchronization and stability: Since the dorsal and ventral regions of the SCN show different response speeds to light schedule changes 16, how do the two circuits regain phase cohesion?

BioEssays

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "modestly asking" to soften a request that might otherwise seem demanding or presumptuous. This adds a layer of politeness and consideration for the recipient's position.

Common error

Avoid using "modestly asking" in casual or informal settings where a more direct approach is appropriate. Overusing it can sound overly formal or even insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modestly asking" functions primarily as a verb phrase modifier, adding a layer of politeness and humility to a request. It softens the directness of the request, making it less imposing. Ludwig shows this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "modestly asking" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, as affirmed by Ludwig. It's employed to soften a request, conveying politeness and humility, and is most suitable for formal or professional settings. While relatively rare in occurrence, it serves a distinct communicative purpose, particularly in written communication, and especially in business or academic contexts where maintaining a respectful tone is important. The best practice is to ensure the context aligns with the need for humility and politeness, and the common error to avoid is overusing it in casual contexts. Ludwig's examples showcase diverse applications of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Humbly requesting

Replaces "modestly" with "humbly", emphasizing a deep sense of humility.

Politely requesting

Substitutes "modestly" with "politely", focusing on courteousness.

Respectfully asking

Emphasizes respect in the request.

Deferentially asking

Highlights deference and submission in the request.

Quietly requesting

Focuses on the subdued nature of the request.

Kindly asking

Emphasizes the kindness in the request.

Gently asking

Highlights the soft and gentle nature of the request.

Submissively asking

Implies a submissive tone in making the request.

With all due respect, asking

Adds a preamble emphasizing respect before making the request.

If I may, I would like to ask

Introduces a more elaborate and formal way of making a request.

FAQs

How can I use "modestly asking" in a sentence?

You can use "modestly asking" to introduce a polite request, such as, "I am "modestly asking" for your assistance with this project." It conveys humility and respect in your request.

What's a more straightforward way to say "modestly asking"?

Alternatives to "modestly asking" include "politely requesting", "respectfully asking", or simply "asking", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

When is it appropriate to use "modestly asking"?

"Modestly asking" is suitable in situations where you want to express humility or deference, such as when requesting a favor from someone in a position of authority or when the request might be perceived as imposing.

What's the difference between "humbly requesting" and "modestly asking"?

While both phrases convey politeness, "humbly requesting" expresses a deeper sense of humility than "modestly asking". The choice depends on the degree of deference you wish to communicate.