a marginal advance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal advance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or slight improvement or progress in a particular area or situation. Example: "The research showed a marginal advance in the effectiveness of the new drug compared to the previous version."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The report proposes a qualifying period of five years, a purely arbitrary figure, but a marginal advance on organisations representing the interests of migrants – the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), which proposed a pathway of 7 years, and Strangers into Citizens, which proposed 6 years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Whatever the cause of his marginal advance, Mr. Bush took to the swing states New Mexico, Florida and Ohio on his way to New York, and he plans to offer an agenda for a second term on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Times

Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, has praised King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia as a "strong advocate of women", but human rights campaigners said his reign only brought marginal advances for women, while failing to secure fundamental rights of free expression, association, and assembly.

The Guardian

Unfortunately, we have made only marginal advances in applying the knowledge learned to the development of new and more effective treatments for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatology

Some military analysts have argued that many of the new weapons programs now being developed -- from the Army's new mobile artillery system to the Air Force's F-22 fighter jet, from the Navy's DD-21 destroyer to the Joint Strike Fighter -- represent relatively marginal advances from previous generations of weapons.

The New York Times

They concluded that a high level of miR-21-5p wassociatedted with venous invasion, liver metastasis, advanced Dukes' stage, and a marginal link with lymph-node metastasis using the mean expression as a cutoff value.

Cancer Management and Research

Peptides with a marginal or stronger association (P <0.2) with joint space loss were advanced for further modeling.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

In addition, a substantial number of patients (50.4%) had multiple symptoms at EP, with only a marginal difference in the numbers related to those reported as having advanced disease at presentation and those without (52.4% and 48.7%, respectively).

British Journal of Cancer

It was a marginal call.

The Guardian - Sport

Later came co-firing, a marginal change.

The Economist

Doping is not a marginal gain.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a series of advancements, consider using "a marginal advance" to differentiate between incremental improvements and major breakthroughs.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal advance" when the progress is significant. This phrase should only be applied to situations where the improvement is genuinely small or limited. For substantial advancements, consider stronger terms like "significant breakthrough" or "major leap".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal advance" functions as a noun phrase where "marginal" modifies the noun "advance". The adjective "marginal" serves to qualify the extent or significance of the advance, indicating that it is small or limited. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase's usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a marginal advance" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English, typically employed to describe a slight or small improvement. Ludwig AI confirms this. While relatively rare in usage, the phrase is versatile, appearing in news, science, and academic contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the progress is genuinely limited to avoid overstating its significance. Related terms include "slight progress" and "minor improvement". Remember to adjust the strength of your language according to the degree of change you are describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight progress

Focuses on the small degree of advancement, omitting the evaluative adjective.

minor improvement

Replaces "advance" with "improvement", highlighting the positive change.

small step forward

Uses a more metaphorical expression to describe the limited progress.

modest gain

Emphasizes the gain or benefit, while still indicating it's not substantial.

incremental advancement

Highlights that the progress is happening in small increments.

limited progress

Directly states the progress is not significant.

a shade better

Uses an informal expression to convey a very small degree of improvement.

a notch up

Similar to "a shade better", implying a slight elevation in status or condition.

a hair's breadth improvement

Emphasizes the miniscule nature of the positive change.

baby step

Uses a common idiom to describe a very small and cautious step forward.

FAQs

How can I use "a marginal advance" in a sentence?

You can use "a marginal advance" to describe a small improvement or progress in a particular area. For example, "The new software represents "a marginal advance" in data processing speed compared to the previous version."

What are some alternatives to "a marginal advance"?

Alternatives include "slight progress", "minor improvement", or "small step forward". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a marginal advance" in formal writing?

Yes, "a marginal advance" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and concise way to describe limited progress without exaggeration. However, always consider your audience and choose language that is appropriate for the specific context.

What's the difference between "a marginal advance" and "a significant advance"?

"A marginal advance" indicates a small or limited improvement, while "a significant advance" implies a substantial and important improvement. The choice between the two depends on the actual degree of progress made.