modestly improved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modestly improved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that has seen a slight or moderate enhancement or betterment. Example: "The software has modestly improved since the last update, with a few new features and bug fixes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The field has thus far apparently yielded only modestly improved weather prediction, and had little, if any, impact on challenges such as getting computers to program themselves.

The New Yorker

But many analysts were disappointed that industry sales only modestly improved.

The New York Times

Treatment with AMD3100 also modestly improved overall survival of mice with metastatic ovarian cancer.

Neoplasia

However, for outpatient encounters, association of cost to modestly improved outcomes suggests cost containment strategies could have variable effects.

Stanford University

Workmanlike it may have been, but the budget has modestly improved Labour's chances of staying in power.

The Guardian

Recently, the selection of treatment modalities for BM has modestly improved patient survival and quality of life.

Lung Cancer

As orders fell, both companies dismissed tens of thousands of employees without succeeding in returning to even modestly improved sales growth.

The New York Times

It called the current generation of antimissile arms "fragile" and full of "shortcomings that limit their effectiveness against even modestly improved threats".

The New York Times - Science

Ford's hiring plans come amid bullish forecasts for sales across the industry in the years ahead, after a miserable 2009 and a modestly improved 2010.

The New York Times

It would be very difficult to alter the interim plans, which modestly improved on the Legislature's plans, in time for the November elections.

The New York Times

In Experiment 1, treatment with methylphenidate modestly improved overall attention but the highest dose of methylphenidate (5.0 mg/kg) significantly increased impulsivity.

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing progress or change, use "modestly improved" to accurately represent small but noticeable advancements. This avoids overstating the degree of improvement and maintains credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "modestly improved" when the actual improvement is significant or substantial. Overstating can mislead your audience and diminish the impact of the real progress. Use stronger terms like "significantly improved" or "dramatically enhanced" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modestly improved" functions as a verb phrase where "modestly" acts as an adverb modifying the verb "improved." Ludwig AI indicates that the expression is correct and usable in written English. It commonly appears to describe the degree to which something has been enhanced or bettered.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

33%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "modestly improved" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a slight or moderate enhancement. According to Ludwig AI, it's a valid and usable phrase across diverse fields such as science, news, and academia. Usage ranges from formal to neutral registers. When using "modestly improved", ensure it accurately reflects the extent of the improvement to avoid overstatement. Alternatives include "slightly enhanced" or "somewhat better", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slightly enhanced

This alternative uses "enhanced" to convey improvement, but emphasizes the small degree with "slightly."

Somewhat better

This option uses a more common and direct way to express a small improvement.

Marginally progressed

This alternative uses "progressed", suggesting forward movement, but emphasizes the small degree with "marginally."

Gradually refined

This phrase emphasizes a slow and steady improvement over time.

Moderately ameliorated

This option uses a more formal word, "ameliorated", to indicate an improvement, but maintains a moderate degree.

Perceptibly advanced

This phrase highlights that the improvement is noticeable or perceptible.

Limited advancement

This alternative focuses on the limited nature of the forward movement.

Subtly optimized

This phrase suggests that the improvement is subtle and related to making something more efficient.

Tactfully developed

This alternative emphasizes that the progression has been handled carefully and with skill.

Uneventfully upgraded

This phrase highlights that the upgrade process happened without issues, though the improvement was small.

FAQs

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

You can use "modestly improved" to describe situations where something has gotten somewhat better, but not dramatically so. For example, "The company's profits have "modestly improved" since the new marketing campaign launched."

What's a good alternative to "modestly improved"?

Alternatives to "modestly improved" include "slightly enhanced", "somewhat better", or "marginally progressed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "modestly improved" formal or informal?

"Modestly improved" is generally considered appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile choice for describing slight improvements across various settings.

What's the difference between "modestly improved" and "significantly improved"?

"Modestly improved" indicates a small or slight improvement, whereas "significantly improved" implies a much larger, more noticeable enhancement. The choice depends on the magnitude of the change you want to describe.