a marginal difference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal difference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant difference between two or more items, concepts, or situations. Example: "The new policy resulted in a marginal difference in employee productivity, which was not enough to justify the changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And it would make only a marginal difference.

The Economist

The average slugging percentage increased by 0.019 — only a marginal difference.

The New York Times

There may be a marginal difference in size compared to those here before, but "so what?

The Guardian - Travel

Even squeezing the subsidies makes only a marginal difference in the overall cost.

The Washington Post

Meanwhile, only a marginal difference of 7% was observed in transverse direction.

Construction and Building Materials

Microhardness measurements show a marginal difference in the hardness between ternary and quaternary deposits.

Surface and Coatings Technology

A marginal difference was found between extreme wave heights obtained from measured and modeled data.

Applied Ocean Research

The White Sox have a $71 million payroll and Minnesota is at $65 million, a marginal difference.

The New York Times - Sports

Bay has hit.279 during night games and.268 during the day over his career, only a marginal difference.

The New York Times - Sports

Policymaking in the European Union is so complicated that the parliamentary balance makes only a marginal difference.

The Economist

Their fertility rate is higher, too.But immigration and reunification will make no more than a marginal difference.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a marginal difference" when you want to downplay the importance of a comparison. It's effective for showing that changes or alternatives are essentially the same.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal difference" when the variations are substantial or have meaningful impacts. This phrase minimizes the contrast, so ensure it aligns with the reality of the comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal difference" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb (e.g., make a difference) or following a linking verb. It describes the extent of dissimilarity between two entities, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

49%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a marginal difference" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe a small or insignificant distinction. According to Ludwig, its versatility makes it suitable for diverse contexts ranging from scientific research to news reporting. When employing this phrase, ensure that the actual difference is indeed minor to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives like "a slight distinction" or "a negligible variation" can offer nuanced ways to express similar concepts. With a high expert rating and frequent usage, "a marginal difference" is a reliable choice for conveying minimal variations in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight distinction

Emphasizes the subtlety of the difference.

a negligible variation

Highlights that the difference is so small it's almost not worth considering.

a minor disparity

Suggests the difference is small in scale or importance.

a trivial contrast

Indicates the difference is unimportant or insignificant.

an insignificant divergence

Highlights the lack of importance in the deviation.

a minimal gap

Focuses on the small size of the space or difference between two things.

a subtle nuance

Emphasizes the delicacy and elusiveness of the difference.

a faint demarcation

Indicates that the boundary or difference is barely perceptible.

a hairline split

Suggests an extremely thin or narrow difference.

a shade of difference

Conveys a very small and subtle degree of variation.

FAQs

How to use "a marginal difference" in a sentence?

Use "a marginal difference" to indicate a small or insignificant distinction. For example, "The new software update made "only a marginal difference" in processing speed."

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

You can use alternatives like "a slight difference", "a negligible variation", or "a minor disparity" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "a marginal difference" is suitable for formal writing. It is frequently used in academic, scientific, and professional contexts to describe small variations.

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

"A marginal difference" indicates a small, often unimportant variation, while "a significant difference" highlights a large, meaningful distinction.