Cool MateModest vs Our operation is small
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Modest
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Our operation is small
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Modest
| Modest | Our operation is small | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmɒdɪst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmɑːdɪst/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //aʊər ˌɒpəˈreɪʃən ɪz smɔːl//🇺🇸 //aʊr ˌɑpəˈreɪʃən ɪz smɔl// |
| Meaning | Not bragging or showing off; humble. | Our work is not big. |
| Example | She is very modest about her achievements and rarely talks about them. | Our operation is small but efficient. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, extremely, fairly, very, in, be, look, remain, extremely, fairly, very, about | small operation, small business, small team, small-scale project |
| Antonyms | arrogant, boastful, ostentatious | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'modesty' — 'modest' is the adjective, while 'modesty' is the noun., Using 'modest' to describe someone overly confident — it means the opposite., Misunderstanding the intensity; often overused to describe something significantly below average when it can mean just 'not excessive'. | Confused with 'big' vs 'small', Omitting 'is' when stating the size |
| Usage notes | Used to describe a person's behavior or achievements positively. More appropriate in formal contexts; avoid in casual conversations that emphasize extravagance. | Use in business or casual contexts to describe the size of an operation. Avoid in formal reports. |
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Frequently asked questions: Modest vs Our operation is small
What's the difference between Modest and Our operation is small?
Modest: Not bragging or showing off; humble. Our operation is small: Our work is not big.
Which is more common: Modest and Our operation is small?
Modest is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Modest: She is very modest about her achievements and rarely talks about them. Our operation is small: Our operation is small but efficient.
Can I use Modest and Our operation is small interchangeably?
Not always. Modest and Our operation is small are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.