a marginal improvement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal improvement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or slight enhancement in a situation, performance, or condition. Example: "After implementing the new strategy, we noticed a marginal improvement in our sales figures."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A modified LHD design, aimed at improving LOS resulted in a marginal improvement in driver LOS (20 36%).

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

The use of regulatory potential scores (red) already gives a marginal improvement for the TF binding prediction, but evolutionary conservation (green) significantly improves the detection performance.

Plosone

Is this fundamental or is this just a marginal improvement to their lives?

The Guardian

But every two-bedroom he saw was too expensive, and moving to a one-bedroom seemed like a marginal improvement.

The New York Times

This year Uganda shares 16th place with neighbouring Ethiopia, a marginal improvement from its previous ranking of 15th place.

The Guardian

A marginal improvement in hardness was noticed in as-plated composite coatings.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Addition of polyethylence glycol (PEG) only gave a marginal improvement on the specific activity.

Journal of Chromatography A

There was a marginal improvement around ethnicity to 9.6% in the last financial year, which is below the national average of 12%.

The Guardian

The film industry is still falling behind television in its depiction of gay characters, according to a report published yesterday that found only a marginal improvement last year.

The Guardian - Film

But the rise was only marginal, department sales still fell by 0.5% - a marginal improvement from the 8% plunge at the end of September.

The Guardian - Business

These numbers reflect a marginal improvement in one public health crisis – 22 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant – spurred by the damage of another.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a marginal improvement" when you want to downplay the significance of a positive change, suggesting that the impact is not substantial. For example, when discussing initial results that are slightly better than expected, but not dramatically so.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal improvement" when the change is actually significant. Using it in such cases can undermine your message and give the impression you are trying to minimize the importance of the positive development.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal improvement" functions as a noun phrase, where "marginal" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "improvement". As shown by Ludwig, it is often used to describe a situation where something has gotten better, but only slightly. It implies that the change is not substantial.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

57%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a marginal improvement" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that describes a slight positive change. According to Ludwig, it is most commonly found in Science and News & Media contexts. While versatile, it's crucial to use it accurately, avoiding overstatements of impact. Alternatives such as "a slight enhancement" or "a minor adjustment" offer similar meanings, each with slight variations in nuance. This analysis, supported by Ludwig AI, provides a comprehensive understanding of its usage, related phrases, and potential pitfalls.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A slight enhancement

Focuses on the act of improving something, emphasizing a small positive change.

A minor adjustment

Highlights a small modification that leads to a better outcome.

A modest gain

Emphasizes the positive result or advantage achieved, though small in scale.

A small step forward

Conveys progress, but indicates that the advancement is limited in scope.

A touch of betterment

Highlights a slight degree of positive change.

A near imperceptible advance

Stresses how small and difficult to notice the positive change is.

A minimal progression

Underlines the very small advancement achieved.

A trivial upgrade

Implies that the improvement is so small as to be almost insignificant.

Barely any progress

Expresses minimal advancement achieved, emphasizing a sense of disappointment.

An insignificant development

Focuses on the lack of importance or impact of the change.

FAQs

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

You can use "a marginal improvement" to describe a small positive change. For instance, "The new software update resulted in "a marginal improvement" in system performance."

What are some alternatives to saying "a marginal improvement"?

Alternatives include "a slight enhancement", "a minor adjustment", or "a modest gain", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "a marginal improvement" is suitable for formal writing when you need to accurately describe a small positive change without exaggerating its impact. Its neutrality makes it useful in reporting and analysis.

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

"A marginal improvement" indicates a small, often barely noticeable change, while "a significant improvement" suggests a substantial and impactful positive change. The choice depends on the actual magnitude of the change.