plural of modesty
The 'plural of modesty' involves using 'we' instead of 'I' to convey humility or collective effort, common in formal writing.
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Definition
C1Linguistics
(formal, academic)Using 'we' instead of 'I' to refer to oneself, often to appear humble or to avoid focusing on oneself.
Example
- In his speech, the scientist used the plural of modesty, saying 'we have discovered' instead of 'I have discovered.'
C1Rhetoric
(formal, academic)A technique where an individual uses the plural form to present their actions as part of a collective effort.
Example
- The author employed the plural of modesty in the paper, writing 'we propose' instead of 'I propose.'