modicum of trust

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "modicum of trust" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small or limited amount of trust in a particular situation or relationship. Example: "In order to work together effectively, we need to establish at least a modicum of trust between us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Establishing that modicum of trust took years.

The New York Times

"But to do that you need to give creditors a modicum of trust that remaining obligations will be met.

The New York Times

But much more needs to be done to rebuild even a modicum of trust between the residents of Ferguson and the people charged to protect them.

The Economist

As for Berkshire's compliance programs, which are not nearly as tough as those at most investment firms, Mr. Buffett clearly believes that he must run his company based on a modicum of trust.

The New York Times

The conflict between the atomic agency and the United States and its allies centers on whether Iran should be afforded a modicum of trust after years of deception about its nuclear efforts.

The New York Times

Despite a nonsensical denial from Obama tonight, it necessarily involves a modicum of trust in a long-vilified enemy that has a lot of American, Iraqi, Israeli, Syrian and Lebanese blood on its hands.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Engagement was supposed to bring economic benefits to the benighted North; a modicum of mutual trust was meant to lessen its threat.

The Economist

Maybe after the Prosperity guys have browbeaten a few more Russian capitalists into respecting shareholders there will also be a modicum of investor trust there as well.

Forbes

But that would be to presume a modicum of goodwill and trust between the parties, without which no resourceful rearrangement of cartography can take place.Both are markedly absent.

The Economist

There's a modicum of truth to this picture — but it's mostly a caricature.

The New York Times - Books

We simply can't trust you to have even a modicum of common sense anymore about seemingly blatantly obvious concepts like talent or originality.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "modicum of trust" to precisely convey a situation where only a small, often grudging, amount of trust exists. It's particularly effective when highlighting the effort required to establish even this limited trust.

Common error

Avoid using "modicum of trust" when the situation involves substantial or well-earned trust. Using it inappropriately can undermine the intended message, making it sound insincere or dismissive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modicum of trust" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and functions to quantify a limited degree of reliance or confidence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "modicum of trust" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that signifies a small or limited amount of trust. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and provides examples of its use across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys situations where trust is either scarce or hard-won. When writing, remember to use it when you truly want to emphasize the limited nature of trust; otherwise, consider using alternatives like ""slight degree of trust"" or ""limited amount of trust"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight degree of trust

Replaces "modicum" with "slight degree", emphasizing the small quantity of trust.

small measure of trust

Substitutes "modicum" with "small measure", indicating a limited amount of trust.

limited amount of trust

Uses "limited amount" instead of "modicum", making the phrase more straightforward.

minimal level of trust

Replaces "modicum" with "minimal level", emphasizing the lowest acceptable amount of trust.

basic level of trust

Replaces "minimal" with "basic", but the overall meaning of having a small amount of trust remains.

a touch of trust

Employs "a touch of" to convey a delicate or small amount of trust.

hint of trust

Replaces "modicum" with "hint", suggesting a subtle or barely perceptible amount of trust.

some degree of confidence

Replaces "trust" with "confidence", slightly shifting the focus while maintaining the sense of limited reliance.

a little bit of faith

Substitutes "trust" with "faith", which can imply a slightly stronger sense of belief, while keeping the quantity small.

fraction of trust

Uses the word "fraction" to describe very small amount of trust, therefore implies lower confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "modicum of trust" in a sentence?

You can use "modicum of trust" to describe a situation where there is only a small amount of trust, such as, "Establishing even a "modicum of trust" between the residents and the authorities took years."

What are some alternatives to "modicum of trust"?

Alternatives include "small measure of trust", "slight degree of trust", or "limited amount of trust". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a bit of trust" or "a modicum of trust"?

"A bit of trust" is more informal. "A "modicum of trust"" is more formal and suggests that the amount of trust is not only small but perhaps reluctantly given or hard-earned.

When is it inappropriate to use "modicum of trust"?

It's inappropriate when describing situations where there is a substantial amount of trust or where trust is freely given. "Modicum of trust" implies a small or limited quantity, so using it in a context of strong trust would be contradictory.