Marginally better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Marginally better" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a slight improvement or advantage over something else. Example: "The new model is marginally better than the previous version in terms of battery life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Chelsea fared marginally better.

The New York Times - Sports

Antony fared only marginally better.

The New York Times

Texting is only marginally better.

The New York Times

First, the clauses deter marginally better bids.

The New York Times

Republican budget plans did marginally better.

The New York Times

"That's only marginally better," Professor Hong said.

The New York Times - Travel

That's only marginally better than chance.

MIT Technology Review

The ad picture was only marginally better.

The New York Times

A third entree was only marginally better.

The New York Times

"As a former mayor it's marginally better".

The New York Times

The film is only marginally better.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "marginally better" when you want to indicate a slight or almost negligible improvement, avoiding exaggeration. It's ideal when the difference is noticeable but not substantial.

Common error

Avoid using "marginally better" when the improvement is significant or substantial. Using it in such cases diminishes the actual progress or difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginally better" functions as an adjective phrase that typically modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a state of slight improvement or advantage. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and frequently used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "marginally better" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term used to express a slight degree of improvement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, with significant presence in academic and scientific writing, it conveys a neutral tone, appropriate for various settings. When using "marginally better", ensure that the improvement is indeed minor, and consider synonyms such as "slightly superior" or "somewhat improved" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slightly superior

Indicates a minor degree of improvement or advantage, similar to "marginally better" but using different wording.

A little better

General term to express a small degree of improvement.

A tad better

Emphasizes the small degree of improvement, using a more informal tone.

Somewhat improved

Focuses on the aspect of improvement, suggesting a moderate positive change.

Minimally enhanced

Highlights the minimal nature of the enhancement, suitable for technical or formal contexts.

Just a bit better

Uses simpler language to convey the small difference in quality or performance.

A shade better

Implies a very subtle improvement, almost imperceptible.

Barely better

Stresses the small margin of improvement, sometimes implying it's almost negligible.

Hardly any better

Highlights that the improvement is so small that it's questionable.

Not much better

Indicates a small difference that may not be significant.

FAQs

How to use "marginally better" in a sentence?

Use "marginally better" to describe something that is slightly improved compared to something else. For example, "The new version is "marginally better" than the old one in terms of performance."

What can I say instead of "marginally better"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly superior", "somewhat improved", or "a little better" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "slightly better" or "marginally better"?

Both "slightly better" and "marginally better" are correct and convey a similar meaning, indicating a small degree of improvement. The choice depends on the desired level of formality.

What's the difference between "significantly better" and "marginally better"?

"Significantly better" indicates a large or important improvement, while "marginally better" indicates a small or slight improvement. The key difference is the degree of improvement being described.