a marginal quantity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal quantity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to refer to a quantity that is small or insignificant in comparison to others. Example: "In the experiment, the effect of the variable was found to be a marginal quantity, not significantly impacting the overall results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Independent

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Despite containing only a marginal quantity of binder (breadcrumbs), slices of this fruity mound just about held together and went down fairly well.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hypothesis 2: The higher the number of children, the lower the risk of divorce; however, once the number increases more than the marginal quantity, it increases the risk of divorce.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

This provides a level of consistency between the joint bivariate estimator and the marginal quantities as compared to other approaches.

Journal of Statistical Distributions and Applications

The typical diet in many households is insufficient in both quality and quantity, leading to low productivity and a marginal livelihood.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The regression analyses of the selected response quantities show that the soil condition has a marginal effect on the demand-ground motion intensity relationships when adopting spectral acceleration to characterize the ground shaking intensity.

Engineering Structures

There was only a marginal difference between the two wild type plant materials showing comparable quantities of both the active compounds.

Botanical Studies

A marginal increase in the price of the starchy food group would reduce the quantities demanded for both meats and the starchy foods because of their complementary relationships.

Health Economics Review

A marginal 10-percent increase in the price of poultry products would reduce the quantities demanded for poultry products but would cause the quantities demanded for meats to increase by 0.6percentt because of substituting meats for poultry.

Health Economics Review

They indicate that, holding the same prices of all other groups and per capita income, a marginal 10-percent increase in the price of an individual food group would reduce its quantities demanded about 4.5percentt.

Health Economics Review

Later came co-firing, a marginal change.

The Economist

It was a marginal call.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a marginal quantity", ensure the context clearly establishes what the quantity is marginal in relation to. This provides clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal quantity" when the quantity in question actually has a significant impact. Ensure your description accurately reflects the quantity's true importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal quantity" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It specifies that the quantity being discussed is small or insignificant. Ludwig confirms this with examples showing it used to describe amounts or effects that are not substantial.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a marginal quantity" is a phrase used to describe a small or insignificant amount, as verified by Ludwig. While grammatically correct, its frequency is rare. It's most commonly found in science and news contexts, indicating a formal register. Alternatives include "a negligible amount" and "a slight quantity". When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what the quantity is marginal in relation to. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The expert analysis considers grammatical correctness, source authority, and usage consistency, resulting in a score of 4.3.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a negligible amount

Emphasizes the insignificance of the quantity.

a slight quantity

Highlights the small size of the quantity.

a minimal quantity

Stresses the quantity is at its lowest possible level.

a trivial quantity

Indicates the quantity is of little importance.

a small amount

A general term for a quantity that is not large.

an insignificant amount

Highlights the lack of importance of the quantity.

a scarce quantity

Emphasizes the limited availability of the quantity.

a tiny amount

Focuses on the extremely small size of the quantity.

a paltry quantity

Suggests the quantity is not only small but also inadequate.

a modicum of

Implies a very small or moderate amount of something, often something abstract.

FAQs

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

You can use "a marginal quantity" to describe something that has a small or insignificant amount. For example, "The experiment showed only "a marginal quantity" of improvement after the treatment".

What's the difference between "a marginal quantity" and "a negligible quantity"?

"A marginal quantity" suggests a small amount that might have a slight effect, while "a negligible quantity" implies the amount is so small it has virtually no effect.

What can I say instead of "a marginal quantity"?

You can use alternatives like "a negligible amount", "a slight amount", or "a minimal amount" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "a marginal quantity" is suitable for formal writing. It is often used in scientific, academic, or technical contexts to describe precise amounts.