a marginal infringement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal infringement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or regulatory contexts to describe a minor violation or breach of rules or laws. Example: "The committee determined that the company had committed a marginal infringement of the environmental regulations, warranting a warning rather than a fine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The only final not to feature a British entry so far came when Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish were disqualified for a marginal infringement of a rule nobody quite understands.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Farrell's conversion cut the gap to seven points, and after Cruden had restored New Zealand's 10-point advantage for a marginal offside, the England fly-half replied in kind as referee Craig Joubert lost patience with the visitors' persistent infringement and Read was yellow-carded for coming in at the side of a ruck.

BBC

It was a marginal call.

The Guardian - Sport

Doping is not a marginal gain.

Independent

Later came co-firing, a marginal change.

The Economist

Setanta was always a marginal, weak competitor.

The Economist

This is no longer a marginal view.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Worcester is obviously a marginal seat.

The Guardian

Murray could claim a marginal victory.

The Guardian - Sport

Aulaqi is not a marginal figure.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is no longer a marginal position.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing legal or regulatory issues, use "a marginal infringement" to downplay the severity of the violation. This phrasing can be useful in contexts where you want to minimize potential repercussions or public concern.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal infringement" when the violation is significant or has serious consequences. Using "marginal" in such contexts can undermine the gravity of the situation and may be perceived as dismissive or misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal infringement" functions as a noun phrase, where "marginal" modifies the noun "infringement". It describes the extent or degree of the infringement, indicating that it is minor or insignificant. Ludwig AI shows examples of its use in describing breaches of rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a marginal infringement" is a phrase used to describe a minor or insignificant violation. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in legal and regulatory contexts where the intent is to downplay the severity of the offense. While not an extremely common phrase, as the examples count suggests, understanding its nuances can improve the accuracy and tone of your writing. Alternatives such as "a minor violation" or "a slight breach" can be considered based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor violation

Focuses on the severity of the breach, using "minor" instead of "marginal".

a slight breach

Replaces "infringement" with "breach" and "marginal" with "slight", emphasizing the small degree of violation.

a minor infraction

Replaces "infringement" with "infraction" to describe a slight violation.

a technical violation

Highlights that the violation is based on specific technicalities of the rule.

a petty offense

Indicates a minor and insignificant wrongdoing.

a trivial transgression

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey a minor violation.

a negligible breach

Emphasizes that the violation is so small it can be ignored.

a borderline case of infringement

Indicates that it is uncertain whether a violation has occurred.

a leniently judged violation

Suggests that the violation was considered minor and judged softly.

a forgivable offense

Highlights that the offense can be easily forgiven or overlooked.

FAQs

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

You can use "a marginal infringement" to describe a minor violation or breach of a rule or law. For example: "The committee determined that the company had committed "a marginal infringement" of the environmental regulations, warranting a warning rather than a fine."

What's the difference between "a marginal infringement" and "a minor violation"?

Both phrases refer to slight breaches, but "a marginal infringement" often implies a more technical or legal context, whereas "a minor violation" is more general. The phrase "a marginal infringement" is more often used to describe breaches in regulatory frameworks.

What are some alternatives to "a marginal infringement"?

Alternatives include "a slight breach", "a minor infraction", or "a technical violation", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is "a marginal infringement" a common phrase in legal documents?

While not extremely common, "a marginal infringement" is appropriate in legal or regulatory contexts when the focus is on downplaying the severity of a rule's violation. More serious breaches would warrant stronger language, such as "significant violation" or "major breach".