a marginal gap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal gap" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant difference or space between two things, often in contexts like economics, statistics, or physical measurements. Example: "The study revealed a marginal gap in the income levels between the two demographic groups."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"What started as a marginal gap between actual operating profit and the one reflected in the books of accounts continued to grow over the years.

The New York Times

In his letter to the Satyam board, Mr. Raju said that a marginal gap in the balance sheet had grown over several years to "unmanageable proportions," and he said he had dressed up the company's profits to avoid a takeover.

The New York Times

If TPC is considered, Algorithm 2 has a marginal gap of outage probability compared to Algorithm 1.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

He states that, "What started as a marginal gap between actual operating profits and ones reflected in the books of accounts continued to grow over the years.

Forbes

This condition, considered by the evaluators to be either a marginal gap (failure) or not (success), was the main reason influencing their disagreement about the survival outcome.

Clinical Oral Investigations

The FDI criteria for marginal adaptation accept the total length of visible enamel as sound and only considers a marginal gap of >0.25 mm or exposed dentine/base as a condition for restoration failure [ 1].

Clinical Oral Investigations

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

With a large marginal gap a highly viscous cement is recommended, when the gap is smaller there is no advantage but also no disadvantage of using a highly viscous cement.

BioMed Research International

However, an inverse step at the cavity margin may also be mistaken as a true marginal gap, exposing enamel and/or dentine.

Clinical Oral Investigations

This has been demonstrated to facilitate water sorption and hydrolytic degradation [26], even in the absence of a visible marginal gap at the tooth biomaterial interface [27].

Acta Biomaterialia

The crowns function intraorally; therefore, moisture absorption and thermal cycling may affect the physical properties of acrylic resin, causing a change in marginal gap size.

The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry

Contrary to conventional hollow-screw implants (only marginal gap), a problem of the expandable implant is the presence of gaps down to the apical region.

International Journal of Implant Dentistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing quantitative data, use "a marginal gap" to emphasize that differences are statistically insignificant or practically irrelevant. For example, "There's a marginal gap in test scores between the two groups, indicating the new teaching method had little impact."

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal gap" when the difference or space is actually substantial or has significant consequences. Misusing the phrase can downplay important distinctions and mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal gap" functions as a noun phrase, where "marginal" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "gap". It quantifies the extent of the gap, indicating that it is small or insignificant. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a marginal gap" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase indicating a small or insignificant difference or space. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's commonly found in science and news media contexts. The phrase is considered neutral in register and serves the purpose of minimizing the importance of a disparity. While not overly frequent, its correct usage and the availability of alternatives such as "a slight difference" or "a minimal space" make it a valuable addition to one's vocabulary. Be cautious not to overstate the insignificance of the gap when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight difference

Emphasizes the small degree of variation or separation.

a small disparity

Highlights a minor inequality or difference.

a minimal space

Focuses on the very limited area or distance involved.

a narrow margin

Implies a close or tight separation between two values or objects.

a thin divide

Suggests a delicate or easily breached separation.

a negligible difference

Indicates that the distinction is so small it's almost not worth considering.

a trivial variation

Highlights that the change is unimportant or insignificant.

a hairline fracture

Used to indicate a very small crack or break in a surface, such as a tooth or a material.

a subtle distinction

Emphasizes that the difference requires careful observation to detect.

a fine line

Emphasizes the delicateness of a separation.

FAQs

How can "a marginal gap" be used in a sentence?

You can use "a marginal gap" to describe a small difference or space between two things. For example, "The analysis revealed "a marginal gap" between the projected and actual sales figures.".

What are some alternatives to "a marginal gap"?

Alternatives include "a slight difference", "a small disparity", or "a negligible difference" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "a marginal gap" in formal writing?

Yes, "a marginal gap" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing quantitative data or technical subjects. Its usage in academic and scientific contexts, as shown by Ludwig, demonstrates its suitability.

What is the difference between "a marginal gap" and "a significant gap"?

"A marginal gap" indicates a small or insignificant difference, whereas "a significant gap" implies a substantial and noteworthy difference. The choice depends on the magnitude and importance of the disparity you're describing.