a marginal success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal success" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an outcome that achieved some level of success, but not to a significant or impressive degree. Example: "The marketing campaign was a marginal success, bringing in a few new customers but not meeting our overall goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Last year, "Shark Tank" was a marginal success on Sunday night.

The New York Times

The effort was a marginal success, wringing £40.69 $57.955) a month from the average subscriber in the fourth quarter of 2001, compared with £39.50 $56.255) in the third.

The New York Times

We already know that Copenhagen won't have legally binding agreements, but how the nations of the world use the meeting to tee up negotiations in 2010 will determine whether the 3-year run up to this meeting will be deemed a marginal success or a total repudiation of the U.N. approach.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We already know Copenhagen won't have legally binding agreements, but how the nations of the world use the meeting to tee up negotiations in 2010 will determine whether the event will be deemed a barely marginal success or a total repudiation of the U.N. approach.

Science Magazine

The New Schools Fund has had marginal success, starting some successful charter programs but struggling with "turnaround" schools.

Forbes

After marginal success as a solo artist, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he came out.

Huffington Post

Contrary to the media hype that surrounds every marginal success of an extremist group, few radicals made it in.

The New York Times

So at first Achatz's cancer, which may have emerged as early as 2003, had only marginal success in gaining a hold in his tongue.

The New Yorker

Dome-shaped ice houses (igloos) were developed by the Eskimos in what would become Alaska and have continued to be constructed with marginal success by children of a variety of ethnic backgrounds throughout the northern United States annually during winter.

Britannica

South Dakota uses the Connections curriculum, which focuses on marriage and relationship communications skills; a 2004 study of the program found marginal success -- some students felt somewhat more negatively about divorce and somewhat more positively toward premarital counseling.

Huffington Post

Philip Robertson of PopMatters awarded the album four out of ten, and said the music sounds manufactured in its too-polished manner, and that "much of what is brought to the fore on this latest musical foray is an earnest attempt at building on the marginal success of their previous power-pop/rock submissions".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a marginal success" when you want to downplay the level of achievement, suggesting it was just barely successful or not particularly impactful. This can be useful in situations where you want to avoid exaggerating results or provide a more realistic assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal success" when the outcome was clearly a failure or had no positive impact. Using it in such cases can create confusion or appear disingenuous. Choose more appropriate language to describe the actual result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a marginal success" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes something that has achieved some level of success, but the success is limited or not particularly significant. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a marginal success" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that denotes a limited or partial positive outcome. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic writings, where accuracy and balanced assessments are valued. While the phrase isn't extremely common, it effectively conveys the message that something achieved some success, albeit not to a significant degree. Alternatives like "a qualified success" or "a modest achievement" can be used to fine-tune the specific nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a qualified success

Emphasizes that the success is not complete or absolute, but rather limited by certain conditions.

a partial victory

Stresses that only a portion of the desired outcome was achieved.

a limited triumph

Highlights the victory aspect but acknowledges that the triumph was not extensive.

a modest achievement

Focuses on the accomplishment while indicating that it was not grand or remarkable.

a measured success

Suggests that the success was deliberately controlled or that its extent is carefully assessed.

a relative success

Indicates that the success is only notable in comparison to something else, rather than being inherently significant.

a tempered success

Implies that the success is moderated or restrained by other factors, often negative ones.

a slight win

Emphasizes the small degree of winning or positive outcome.

a near miss

Highlights the proximity to failure while still acknowledging some positive result.

a mixed blessing

Reflects that the success has both positive and negative aspects or consequences.

FAQs

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

You can use "a marginal success" to describe an attempt or project that achieved some positive results but didn't fully meet expectations. For example, "The new marketing strategy was "a marginal success", increasing sales by only 2%".

What are some alternatives to "a marginal success"?

Some alternatives include "a qualified success", "a modest achievement", or "a partial victory", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "marginal success" or "a marginal success"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "a marginal success" is more common when referring to a specific instance or event. "Marginal success" without the article "a" is more general, referring to the concept of slight success in general.

What's the difference between "a marginal success" and "a complete success"?

"A marginal success" indicates a limited or incomplete positive outcome, while "a complete success" signifies that the goal was fully achieved with entirely positive results.