a marginal impact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal impact" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant effect or influence that something has on a situation or outcome. Example: "The new policy is expected to have a marginal impact on overall productivity, but it may improve employee morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Lawitts said the delays and overruns would have only a "marginal" impact on water rates.

The New York Times - Science

Such plans would, at best, have a marginal impact on the bank-insolvency problem.

The New Yorker

Their research suggested higher peak fares would have only a marginal impact on travel patterns.

The Guardian

Other concessions offered by Mr. Brown appeared to have had only a marginal impact on the vote.

The New York Times

The company's operations in both countries include onshore and offshore fields but have a marginal impact on BP's overall production.

The New York Times

Liam Bailey, head of residential research at estate agency Knight Frank, said he expected the tax change to have only a "marginal impact" on demand and prices.

The Guardian - Money

"Additional monetary measures will have only a marginal impact," said Horta-Osório, who urged the government to consider an infrastructure programme to bolster productivity.

The Guardian - Business

A no-fly zone would be very difficult to enforce, and might not have anything more than a marginal impact on the ground.

The Guardian - Opinion

No serious analyst – including those in Whitehall – think changes to benefit rules will have more than a marginal impact on migration flows".

The Guardian

"The significance of airdrops, which had a marginal impact at best, will drop even more as soon as land deliveries pick up".

The New York Times

Proposed federal gun-trafficking laws and changes to mental health databases would have a marginal impact on gun violence, experts say.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use specific details to illustrate why the impact is marginal. For instance, quantify the impact or compare it to a larger context to emphasize its insignificance.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal impact" when the effect is actually significant. Ensure your assessment accurately reflects the magnitude of the impact to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal impact" functions as a noun phrase that describes the degree or extent of an effect. Based on Ludwig's examples, it indicates that the impact is small and often not considered important.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

59%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a marginal impact" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that has a small or insignificant effect. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and offers alternatives like "a slight effect" or "a minor influence". Analysis of various sources reveals that it is most frequently used in scientific and news contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that you accurately reflect the magnitude of the impact to maintain clarity and credibility. Understanding its function and purpose enhances effective communication in professional and academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight effect

Replaces "impact" with "effect", maintaining the meaning of a small change.

a minor effect

Substitutes "marginal" with "minor", emphasizing the limited degree of influence.

a negligible influence

Replaces both "marginal" and "impact" with "negligible" and "influence", stressing the insignificance of the effect.

a limited influence

Uses "limited" instead of "marginal", highlighting the restricted scope of the influence.

a small effect

Replaces "marginal" with "small", providing a more general term for the limited effect.

an insignificant effect

Replaces "marginal" with "insignificant", emphasizing the lack of importance of the effect.

a minimal impact

Uses "minimal" in place of "marginal", suggesting the effect is as small as it can be.

a trivial effect

Replaces "marginal" with "trivial", emphasizing that the effect is unimportant or not worth considering.

hardly any effect

Expresses the idea of very little to no impact, differing more significantly in structure.

not much influence

Simplifies the phrasing to indicate a lack of substantial influence, altering the formality.

FAQs

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

Use "a marginal impact" to describe situations where something has a very small or insignificant effect. For example, "The new regulation is expected to have "a marginal impact" on the company's profits".

What are some alternatives to "a marginal impact"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight effect", "a minor effect", or "a negligible influence" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "a marginal impact" is suitable for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to describe a small or insignificant effect, and can be used in various professional fields such as business, science, and news.

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

"A marginal impact" describes a very small or insignificant effect, while "a significant impact" describes a substantial or important effect. The choice depends on the actual magnitude of the effect you're describing.