Modest increase

[mrmvp]

If I want to describe a trending in chart that is a very little increase or decrease. For example, from 200 animals to 210. Or from 10% to 12%

Can I say modest increase?

Is there a word that shows little increase or decrease as in the given example above?

 

[emsr2d2]

If I want to describe a trending trend in on a chart that in which there is a very little small increase or decrease. For example, from 200 animals to 210, or from 10% to 12%.

Can I say "modest increase"?

Is there a word that shows little increase or decrease as in the given example above?

As always, please give us the full sentence you want to write, including "modest increase".

 

[mrmvp]

As always, please give us the full sentence you want to write, including "modest increase".

Thank you for your correction and reply.

The charts are attached.

1- Computer ownerships saw modest increase by about 5% in 2008 in the UK.

In sentence one, I mentioned "by about" because I can't specify how much the percentage increased.

2- The number of gorillas witnessed modest increase in cameron from 1990 to 2015

As you can see in the chart attached, in sentence two, I can't specify how much the increase is because the number is slight as did Angola, Nigeria, and Gabon. I am required in any IELTS exam to compare and contrast and describe trends.

Thank you and I am sorry for taking up your time. please correct my mistakes if there are any.

 

[tedmc]

I wouldn't use the adjective "modest" when the percentage figure is stated. It does not mean anything. It may seem "moderate" to you but "small" to others.

 

[Piscean]

I'd say a slight increase.

 

[jutfrank]

First of all, 'modest increase' is a very good collocation, yes.

However, there are various errors in your example sentences. Let's look at the first:

Computer ownerships saw modest increase by about 5% in 2008 in the UK.

1) Computer ownership should be singular, as it's an uncountable noun.
2) The verb saw is incorrect.
3) You've missed an indefinite article.
4) The preposition by is incorrect.

What's your target IELTS band score?

 

[Piscean]

2) The verb saw is incorrect.

I wouldn't use it, but I often see/hear it, as here:

Seattle’s rate of car ownership saw the biggest drop among big U.S. cities​

Seattle’s rate of car ownership saw the biggest drop among big U.S. cities — by far

We now rank 11th among the 50 largest cities for the percentage of car-free households. Since 2010, we've leapfrogged Miami, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Oakland, California.

www.seattletimes.com

 

[jutfrank]

Regarding the use of the verb 'saw':

1a) Cameroon saw a modest increase in its gorilla population ...
1b) Apple saw a huge increase in sales ...

These are good, with Cameroon and Apple as the subject of 'saw'.

2a) The number of gorillas saw a modest increase in Cameroon ...
2b) Sales saw a huge increase ...

These are not right, in my view, since they have the thing that increased as the verb subject.

 

[mrmvp]

First of all, 'modest increase' is a very good collocation, yes.

However, there are various errors in your example sentences. Let's look at the first:



1) Computer ownership should be singular, as it's an uncountable noun.
2) The verb saw is incorrect.
3) You've missed an indefinite article.
4) The preposition by is incorrect.

What's your target IELTS band score?

Thank you teacher.

7+ . My first attempt three years ago was 6 in writing. I was bitterly disappointed.

From 2006 to 2008, the percentage of computer ownership increased 5% to reach 80%

Which preposition fits in the sentence, "increase by", "increase at" or "increase to"?

Is the following sentence correct now?

The computer ownership witnessed modest increase (by) (at) (to) about 5% in 2008 in the UK.

I used "about" because I am not sure it is 5% It is not clear in the chart.

Is the computer ownership singular because computer acts as an adjective describing ownership?

I usually use "witnessed" instead of "saw".

 

[tedmc]

When something increases, it increases by a certain amount (an increment).

Computer ownership is a uncountable noun, so singular.

I wouldn't use "witnessed/saw" with abstract things, though there is such a thing called personification. Just say "computer ownership increased (moderately) by ...".

 

[jutfrank]

7+ . My first attempt three years ago was 6 in writing. I was bitterly disappointed.

And what was your most recent score?

From 2006 to 2008, the percentage of computer ownership increased 5% to reach 80%

Which preposition fits in the sentence, "increase by", "increase at" or "increase to"?

by

There's an important difference between percentage increase and increase by percentage points. For example, let's say the unemployment rate starts the year at 8% and finishes the year at 12%. That's an increase of 50%, not 4%. You can, however, say that there was an increase of 4 percentage points.

Is the following sentence correct now?

The computer ownership witnessed modest increase (by) (at) (to) about 5% in 2008 in the UK.

1) There's no reason for The.
2) You've missed an indefinite article
3) The preposition should be of.
4) I don't like your use of witnessed. I think it's wrong.
5) The maths is wrong. You're talking about percentage points, not percentages.

I used "about" because I am not sure it is 5% It is not clear in the chart.

That's okay, but I'd suggest you use 'approximately' instead, which is more academic.

Is the computer ownership singular because computer acts as an adjective describing ownership?

Yes.

I usually use "witnessed" instead of "saw".

You can use either one, but you should learn how to use them properly. In your example sentence, I consider them wrong, as would many others.