an insufficient margin

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an insufficient margin" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where there is a lack of adequate space, allowance, or difference, often in financial, academic, or design discussions. Example: "The project's budget had an insufficient margin for unexpected expenses, leading to financial strain."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Current standards allow an insufficient margin of error for existing CR technologies, making the risks of failure outweigh the benefits in cost savings.

Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This case showed negative margin cytology, but M/T ratio = 0.8 cm/1.1 cm < 1, and positive lymphatic invasion (ly1), which suggest an insufficient surgical margin.

Surgical Case Reports

For cases where it was predicted that the surgical margin could be insufficient or cases where the excised tissue indicated insufficient margin, radiotherapy was used concomitantly.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

However, adjacent construction in close proximity may provide insufficient margin on membrane tensile de-bonding, particularly if the membrane is partially or fully saturated.

Underground Space

Inadequately treated in situ breast carcinoma, for example, insufficient margin control, may have contributed to the observed risk increase (Yau et al, 2002; Fredriksson et al, 2003; Kerlikowske et al, 2003; Khan and Newman, 2004).

British Journal of Cancer

That's according to a "senior Samsung source" who declined to be identified, citing insufficient margins owing to Apple's supply pricing strategy.

TechCrunch

Local irradiation and/or systemic cisplatin-based chemotherapy were postoperatively administered for patients with advanced stages of the disease, insufficient margins (<2 cm) of curative resection or tumour recurrence.

British Journal of Cancer

In patients with suspected dentin hypersensitivity due to positive findings in the screening and history, the thorough differential diagnosis is very important to eliminate all other forms of orofacial pain, including pulpal inflammation, periodontal pain, cracked tooth syndrome, insufficient margins of restorations, atypical odontalgia, etc.

Clinical Oral Investigations

It can also issue a notice of insufficient system margin, calling on power firms to increase the amount of energy they make available.

The Guardian - Business

But incrementalism is an insufficient response.

The New York Times

Simply shedding jobs is an insufficient strategy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an insufficient margin", ensure the context clearly defines what type of margin is being discussed (e.g. financial, surgical, safety) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "an insufficient margin" when a complete absence of margin is intended; phrases like "no margin" or "zero margin" would be more accurate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an insufficient margin" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It describes a state of lacking an adequate buffer or allowance. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an insufficient margin" is a grammatically sound and usable expression indicating a lack of adequate space, allowance, or difference. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability across various contexts, including scientific, business, and news-related domains. While not exceedingly common, it serves to highlight a deficiency, and related phrases like "a narrow margin" or "an inadequate allowance" can provide alternative wording. Ensure clarity by specifying the type of margin in question and avoid using the phrase when a complete absence is intended. The phrase appears in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a deficient allowance

Uses "deficient" to emphasize the inadequacy of the allowance.

a meager surplus

Substitutes "insufficient margin" with "meager surplus", directly addressing the lack of excess.

an inadequate buffer

Replaces "margin" with "buffer", emphasizing a lack of reserve capacity.

a narrow leeway

Replaces "margin" with "leeway", suggesting limited freedom of action.

a reduced buffer zone

Emphasizes the decrease in the space or allowance available.

a slim allowance

Substitutes "insufficient" with "slim" and "margin" with "allowance", highlighting a minimal amount provided.

a tight constraint

Uses "constraint" to replace "margin", shifting the focus to limitation.

a scant safety net

Replaces "margin" with "safety net", highlighting a lack of protection against risks.

a limited scope

Employs "scope" instead of "margin", referring to restricted boundaries or possibilities.

a compromised boundary

Shifts the focus to a boundary that has been weakened or reduced.

FAQs

How can I use "an insufficient margin" in a sentence?

You can use "an insufficient margin" to describe situations where there is not enough of something, such as "The budget had "an insufficient margin" for error" or "The surgical procedure left "an insufficient margin" of healthy tissue".

What are some alternatives to saying "an insufficient margin"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a narrow "margin"", "an inadequate "allowance"", or "a tight "constraint"".

Is it better to say "insufficient margin" or "inadequate margin"?

Both "insufficient margin" and "inadequate margin" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably in many contexts. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "an insufficient margin" mean in a financial context?

In finance, "an insufficient margin" typically refers to a situation where there are not enough funds in an account to cover potential losses from an investment. This can lead to a "margin call", where the investor is required to deposit additional funds.