a marginal work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a marginal work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a piece of work that is of little importance, significance, or value in a particular context. Example: "While the author has produced several acclaimed novels, this one is considered a marginal work that did not resonate with critics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

With the exception of Part One's account of moral evil, the remainder of the text has been dismissed as a marginal work, maligned as a capitulation to the Christian powers of Kant's day, or just a garrulous account of our moral ideals symbolically portrayed in an "imaginatively enhanced or pictorial form".

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As a result, many remain trapped in marginal work and detached from Germany's much-hailed jobwunder, or jobs miracle.

The Guardian

But Anthology is not only New York's premier showcase for avant-garde film, but also virtually the city's only theater that offers more than a one-night stand to such commercially marginal work.

The New York Times

The question remains, then: will Thomas and Lee cope with working on a bigger scale, or will this quirky, deliberately marginal work collapse under the weight of the National Theatre's expectations?

The Guardian

So yes, this book has its pleasures, but even confirmed admirers might want the posthumous career to pause for a while, before the marginal works start to crowd out the masterpieces.

Independent

Disregarding a certain amount of earnings in the income test, or ignoring marginal working hours in the eligibility test of out-of-work benefits, can provide strong incentives to supplement benefit income with a small amount of earnings and to seek or maintain at least some link with the labour market, e.g., in the form of marginal employment of a few hours a week.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Most of the time it was defined as the opposite of beauty but almost no one ever devoted a treatise of any length to ugliness, which was relegated to passing mentions in marginal works".

The New York Times

The research shows that placing the learner in a marginal position in work communities and not seeing him/her as a legitimate member of the work team limits available learning affordances (Filliettaz 2010; Nielsen 2008; Savoie-Zajc and Dolbec 2003).

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

But these will make only a marginal difference to working parents set to lose thousands of pounds a year in tax credits.

The Guardian - Opinion

In work communities, the apprentice must be seen as a legitimate rather than a marginal member of the work team.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Fraser Kemp, Labour's deputy election coordinator, said: "If there is a tidal wave coming in, obviously there is little any individual MP can do but in a marginal seat the hard work put in by MPs who know the local issues is appreciated by the electorate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a marginal work", ensure the context clearly indicates why the work is considered unimportant or insignificant. Provide specific reasons or comparisons to highlight its lack of impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a marginal work" to describe something that simply didn't meet expectations but still holds some value. Reserve it for truly insignificant or peripheral efforts to maintain clarity and avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

A marginal work functions as a noun phrase where "marginal" is an adjective modifying the noun "work". It serves to categorize a particular piece of work as being of minor importance or significance, as exemplified by Ludwig's analysis of moral evil.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

A marginal work is a phrase used to describe a piece of work considered to be of little importance or significance. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, although its frequency is rare. The phrase finds usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedic sources, suggesting a neutral register. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to provide context to justify the assessment of marginality and avoid overstating its insignificance. Alternatives like "a minor piece" or "a trivial undertaking" may offer nuanced options depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor piece

Emphasizes the insignificance or lesser importance of the work.

an insignificant creation

Highlights the lack of importance or impact of the created work.

a trivial undertaking

Suggests the work is unimportant or not worth serious consideration.

a peripheral endeavor

Indicates the work is on the edge of the main focus or concern.

a negligible project

Stresses the smallness and lack of impact of the project.

a secondary effort

Implies the work is of lesser priority compared to other efforts.

an inconsequential task

Emphasizes the lack of consequences or importance of the task.

a lightweight composition

Suggests the work lacks depth or substance.

a superficial attempt

Highlights the lack of thoroughness or seriousness in the effort.

a slim volume

Implies the work is insubstantial in size and possibly content.

FAQs

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

You can use "a marginal work" to describe something that is of little importance or significance in a particular field. For example: "The author considers his early poems "a marginal work" compared to his later novels."

What are some alternatives to "a marginal work"?

Some alternatives to "a marginal work" include "a minor piece", "an insignificant creation", or "a trivial undertaking" depending on the specific context.

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

Yes, "a marginal work" is appropriate for formal writing, but consider the tone and context. Alternatives like "a secondary effort" or "a peripheral endeavor" may be more suitable in some academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "a marginal work" and "a flawed work"?

"A marginal work" implies the work is of little significance, while "a flawed work" suggests it has identifiable imperfections or weaknesses but might still hold value or importance. They are not interchangeable; a work can be flawed without being marginal and vice versa.