a marginal concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an issue or topic that is not of primary importance or significance. Example: "While the budget cuts are a major issue, the impact on employee morale is a marginal concern in comparison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But no one at CNN is arguing that prime time is a marginal concern.

The New York Times

Security has gone from a marginal concern to the very heart of American interactions with other countries.

The New York Times - Magazine

A marginal concern for some crime researchers, however, was a rise in violent crime in towns with populations under 10,000.

The New York Times

Perhaps rights and liberty will remain a marginal concern, which few in a pinched Britain have the time or inclination to worry about; yet it may be the price of restricting freedom that proves too high for politicians.

The Economist

However, there is no known identifiable event that would initiate such a change, making this a marginal concern.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He or she may acknowledge that higher employment leads to higher interest rates, but this seems an iffy, marginal concern.

Harvard Business Review

Or, rather, to reveal that it had been there all along, and that race, far from being a special or marginal concern, was a central facet of the American story.

The New York Times - Books

And yet the struggle to end, finally, this most abject form of exploitation remains of marginal concern in the development community.

The Guardian

If it weren't for digital production and its potential for worldwide distribution on social media, the Islamic State might be of marginal concern outside of the Arab world.

The New Yorker

"In comparison to the iPhone 4 Antenna/Reception issue, the current Apple Maps issue is of marginal concern to iPhone 5/iOS 6 users," ChangeWave writes.

TechCrunch

The classification he himself gives involves acts that are nowadays not considered as part of a separate science: the mere act of uttering a word (the phatic act) or sentence is part of phonetics (or phonology) and only of marginal concern here.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a marginal concern", ensure the context clearly establishes what the primary concern is, providing a contrast that highlights the relative unimportance of the marginal one.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal concern" when the issue at hand genuinely has significant implications; doing so can undermine your credibility and misrepresent the true situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal concern" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object. It describes something considered of lesser importance relative to other issues. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a valid and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a marginal concern" is used to describe something that is of minor importance or significance compared to other, more pressing issues. Ludwig AI indicates it is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, though its frequency is rare. While it's suitable for formal contexts, it's essential to ensure its use doesn't unintentionally downplay a genuinely important issue. Related phrases include "a minor issue" and "a secondary concern".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry", suggesting a slightly less formal tone.

a secondary consideration

Substitutes "concern" with "consideration", emphasizing the act of weighing its importance.

a trivial issue

Replaces "concern" with "issue", indicating the matter is insignificant.

a negligible problem

Emphasizes the insignificance of the "concern" by calling it negligible.

an insignificant matter

Highlights the lack of importance of the "concern".

a slight preoccupation

Replaces "concern" with "preoccupation", suggesting a mild absorption.

a small detail

Focuses on the diminutiveness of the "concern" relative to the bigger picture.

a low priority

Indicates the "concern" is not urgent or pressing.

a remote possibility

Suggests the "concern" is unlikely to materialize or have an impact.

a side issue

Implies the "concern" is tangential and not central to the main topic.

FAQs

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

You can use "a marginal concern" to describe something that is not a primary focus or worry. For instance, "While the budget deficit is a major issue, the staff's morale is "a marginal concern" in comparison."

What are some alternatives to "a marginal concern"?

Alternatives include "a minor issue", "a secondary concern", or "a trivial matter", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "a marginal concern" is appropriate for formal writing, but consider the context. In some cases, "a minor issue" might be a slightly more neutral choice.

What's the difference between "a marginal concern" and "a minor concern"?

"A marginal concern" suggests something is on the periphery of importance, while "a minor concern" simply indicates it's not a major worry. They are often interchangeable, but "marginal" emphasizes relative unimportance.