a marginal issue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal issue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a topic or concern that is considered to be of little importance or relevance in a particular context. Example: "While the budget cuts are significant, the debate over the color of the office walls is merely a marginal issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

This is not a marginal issue, nor one for compromise.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This," Mr. Sharpton added, "is not a marginal issue".

The New York Times

Yet the Court is a marginal issue in the current campaign.

The New Yorker

This doesn't look like a marginal issue to me, it looks like a powerful force of structural sexism.

The Guardian - Opinion

He said he was worried that politicians "making a fuss" over a "marginal issue" could prove counterproductive and alienate people.

The Guardian

In fact, a single website for local government is, from a geeky point of view, a marginal issue.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

IT IS hard to recall that the environment was a fairly marginal issue in British politics until a few years ago.

The Economist

What's fascinating is that as recently as the nineties, this was a fairly marginal issue; it has accelerated into the mainstream only recently.

The New Yorker

In a YouGov poll published on Thursday, 89% of Britons said they believed payday lenders "take advantage of the vulnerable", showing the degree to which awareness has grown on what was once a relatively marginal issue.

The Guardian

As mentioned above, concept orientation is a rather marginal issue for standardization bodies, so that terminological data are often presented with only a minimum of term-related or concept-identifying information: 1. Term   2.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Immigration is to modern politics what violent crime was in the 1980s: an apparently marginal issue that can swiftly overwhelm a campaign.Americans' attitudes to immigration often seem erratic, even contradictory.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a marginal issue" when you want to downplay the importance of a topic, suggesting it does not merit significant attention or resources. For emphasis, consider contrasting it directly with a more significant issue within the same sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal issue" to describe topics that affect marginalized groups or have potential long-term consequences. Downplaying serious concerns can undermine your credibility and cause unintended harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal issue" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object. It identifies something as being of minor importance or consequence. Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a marginal issue" is used to describe something of little importance or relevance. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. While the phrase is accurate, it's important to use it with care to avoid diminishing issues that are actually important to certain groups. Alternatives such as "a minor concern" or "a trivial matter" can provide similar meanings. This phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor concern

Focuses on the feeling of worry or interest that the issue generates, rather than its importance.

a trivial matter

Emphasizes the insignificance and lack of seriousness of the issue.

an insignificant problem

Highlights the lack of impact or consequence of the problem.

a secondary consideration

Indicates that the issue is less important than other factors.

a peripheral topic

Suggests the issue is on the edge of the main subject, not central to it.

a negligible detail

Points out that the detail is so small it can be ignored.

a side issue

Implies the issue is separate from the main point and doesn't deserve much attention.

an unimportant detail

Stresses the lack of significance of the detail.

a non-essential point

Suggests the point isn't necessary or crucial.

a low-priority item

Shows that the item isn't urgent or important compared to other items.

FAQs

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

Use "a marginal issue" to describe something of minor importance. For example, "While the budget is being debated, the color of the office walls is "a marginal issue" compared to funding essential programs."

What are some alternatives to "a marginal issue"?

Alternatives include "a minor concern", "a trivial matter", or "an insignificant problem". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

When is it inappropriate to describe something as "a marginal issue"?

It's inappropriate to use "a marginal issue" when the topic has significant impact on people's lives, involves ethical considerations, or could have serious long-term consequences. Mislabeling important matters can diminish their importance and cause offense.

What's the difference between "a marginal issue" and "a secondary consideration"?

"A marginal issue" suggests something is unimportant overall. "A secondary consideration", on the other hand, implies it's less important than other factors but still relevant to the decision or discussion.