a marginal contribution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal contribution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a contribution that is small or insignificant in comparison to others. Example: "The research team found that the new method provided only a marginal contribution to the overall results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Policy 33, 1167 1183] on the tennis racket industry shows that independent inventors are a heterogeneous group which includes both "heroes" who contribute substantially to technological progress and "hobbyists" who make only a marginal contribution.

Research Policy

In normal times, what the opposition says usually makes a marginal contribution to the destiny of the nation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Until now, the "vital role" that President Bush has promised for the United Nations has been limited, by American design, to a marginal contribution.

The New York Times

Repeated interest rate cuts encouraged families to buy new houses and refinance their mortgages, putting cash in their pockets; yes, the tax cut also made a marginal contribution.

The New York Times

And all public evidence suggests that, from its inception in 2001 to this day, bulk collection has never made more than a marginal contribution to securing Americans from terrorism, despite its costs.

The Guardian - Opinion

The only thing that's really required of us, it turns out, is our sperm -- that now fragile-seeming vehicle of our genetic selves - and in this age of cloning and reproductive miracles, that seems a marginal contribution indeed.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

It might also be worth assessing risk over a longer period than just one year, now the standard practice, or raising some banks' capital requirements if their size means that they make a disproportionate marginal contribution to system-wide risk.

The Economist

Hence, the results support Schultz's argument that formal education has a significant marginal contribution to farm production only under modern technology.

Agricultural and Food Economics

The BTC consortium now hopes that some of the oil in the Kazakh fields across the sea will pass through the new pipeline, or perhaps oil from Russia, despite the Kremlin's distaste for the project.When the oil runs outA good deal for BP, and a useful if marginal contribution to global oil flow; but a good deal for Azerbaijan?

The Economist

However, the main effect in striatum described by Peterson et al., was driven by a volume decrease in the caudate, a structure with marginal contribution to sensorimotor cortico-subcortical loops compared with putamen (Parent and Hazrati, 1995).

Brain

Next documents were summarized using an abstraction tool and given a relevance score and a scientific validity score, both ranging from 1 to 3. The relevance score ranged from 1 for documents offering a minor or marginal contribution to the understanding of the phenomena studied to 3 for documents providing detailed insights directly focused on those phenomena.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a marginal contribution", ensure the context clearly indicates that the contribution is indeed small and potentially insignificant. Avoid using it when the contribution is substantial or crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal contribution" when the element actually plays a vital role. This diminishes the importance and can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal contribution" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing something that adds a small, almost insignificant amount to a larger whole. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a marginal contribution" accurately describes a small or insignificant addition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Its usage spans across science, news, and formal business contexts, indicating a versatile yet generally neutral register. When writing, it's important to use this phrase when the contribution is truly minor to avoid overstating its importance. Alternatives like "a slight addition" or "a minor impact" can be used for similar meanings, providing nuanced options for conveying the degree of impact or addition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight addition

This alternative focuses on the act of adding something small.

a minor impact

This alternative emphasizes the small effect or influence.

a negligible factor

This suggests that the contribution is so small it's practically unimportant.

a minimal element

This highlights the small and essential nature of the contribution.

a trivial component

This implies the contribution is unimportant and easily overlooked.

a small part

This alternative is more straightforward and general, indicating a small piece of something larger.

a limited influence

Focuses on the restricted scope of the impact.

a modest role

Emphasizes the unassuming and limited part played.

an insignificant amount

This alternative underscores the small quantity or degree of contribution.

a secondary effect

This suggests the contribution is not the primary or main cause.

FAQs

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

You can use "a marginal contribution" to describe something that adds a small or insignificant amount to a larger whole. For example, "The new strategy made "a marginal contribution" to the company's profits."

What can I say instead of "a marginal contribution"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight addition", "a minor impact", or "a negligible factor" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a marginal contribution to" or "a marginal contribution for"?

The correct preposition to use with "a marginal contribution" is "to". For example, "The research made "a marginal contribution to" the field of medicine."

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

"A marginal contribution" implies a small, almost negligible impact, while "a significant contribution" suggests a substantial and important impact.