a marginal gain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal gain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small improvement or advantage in a particular area, often in contexts like sports, business, or personal development. Example: "By implementing a new training regimen, the team was able to achieve a marginal gain in their overall performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Doping is not a marginal gain.

Independent

Take a pause and observe more closely, though, and it demonstrates just what a different world this is: in Edwards's time a marginal gain was staying upright; for Zoe Gillings it could make the difference in earning a place on the podium in the snowboard cross.

Independent

But, in their landmark study, "Academically Adrift," Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa found that, on average, students experienced a pathetic seven percentile point gain in skills during their first two years in college and a marginal gain in the two years after that.

The New York Times

However, only a marginal gain is achieved for the right filter block.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The index zigzagged throughout the morning and was virtually flat around midday with a marginal gain of 0.2%.

Forbes

On the other hand, reducing OE in houses is actually a continual progression from the status quo and there is always a marginal gain in doing so.

Energy Conversion and Management

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Back in Beijing, GB's studied, indepth accumulation of minuscule advantages over their rivals – some as simple as never using an Olympic courtesy bus to avoid possible infections or made-to-measure shoes with custom-made soles – was a huge innovation, and it unleashed something of a marginal gains "war".

Independent

The one thing you see from us is it's all marginal gain.

The Guardian

In particular, it illustrated that people who are least active to begin with are likely to have most to gain from a marginal increase in PA, but for people who are already moderately or highly active, the additional health gains for the same marginal increase in PA are likely to be more modest.

BMJ Open

If assigning an extra worker to m2 produces a greater marginal gain in the total probability of solving the problem than assigning her to m1, then the worker should be assigned to m2.

SEP

OK, so you may have forgotten to either mention or introduce Ben Howlett, the fresh-faced candidate who is hoping to turn this normally safe Lib Dem seat into a Tory marginal gain?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a marginal gain", consider quantifying the gain if possible (e.g., "a 5% marginal gain") to provide more context and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal gain" when the actual improvement is significant. Reserve it for situations where the progress is genuinely small and incremental.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal gain" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in diverse contexts, reflecting its established role in the English language.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

57%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a marginal gain" signifies a small, incremental improvement. As confirmed by Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct and it sees common use across diverse fields like News & Media and Science. The linguistic analysis reveals its function as a noun phrase, serving to describe incremental benefits in mostly neutral to formal contexts. When communicating "a marginal gain", it's best practice to quantify the gain when possible. Common alternatives include "a slight improvement" or "a small advantage". As Ludwig's examples reveal, even small improvements are valuable, therefore avoid overstating its impact on a situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight improvement

Focuses on the action of improving, emphasizing the small degree of change.

a small advantage

Highlights the benefit obtained, rather than the process of gaining it.

a modest increase

Emphasizes the limited quantity of the increase.

a negligible improvement

Highlights the nearly insignificant nature of the improvement.

a minimal benefit

Stresses the very small and limited nature of the advantage gained.

a fractional advancement

Uses a more technical term ('fractional') to emphasize the small portion of progress made.

an incremental step

Focuses on the step-by-step nature of the gain, highlighting its gradual progress.

a limited progression

Underscores the constrained nature of the advancement.

a narrow margin

Shifts the focus to the small space or degree by which something is achieved.

a subtle enhancement

Emphasizes the delicacy and inconspicuousness of the improvement.

FAQs

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

You can use "a marginal gain" to describe a slight improvement or advantage, such as, "The new software update provided "a marginal gain" in processing speed."

What's a good alternative to "a marginal gain"?

Alternatives include "a slight improvement", "a small advantage", or "a modest increase" depending on the specific context.

Is it always positive to have "a marginal gain"?

While generally positive, whether "a marginal gain" is valuable depends on the context. In competitive situations, even small gains can be crucial. However, if the cost to achieve it is too high, it might not be worthwhile.

What is the difference between "a marginal gain" and "a significant improvement"?

"A marginal gain" refers to a small, often barely noticeable, improvement. In contrast, "a significant improvement" indicates a substantial and easily recognized positive change.