at the margin

USAGE SUMMARY

"at the margin" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation that is on the edge or limit of something, or to describe a range of something. For example, "The company is operating at the margin of what is legally allowed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And, at the margin, some food.

Independent

Elections were decided at the margin.

The Economist

Still, some changes are at the margin.

The New York Times

Changes at the margin are not nothing.

The Economist

They suggest "pesification at the margin".

The Economist

It may help at the margin.

The Economist

"We don't need changes at the margin".

The New York Times - Magazine

Perhaps, at the margin, Ryanair is simply becoming less popular.

The Guardian - Business

"Those differences are at the margin," he said.

The Guardian

We're talking about reducing it at the margin," he said.

The New York Times

At the margin, there have been developments since February.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about economic or statistical topics, remember that "at the margin" often implies a consideration of the next incremental unit or change.

Common error

Avoid using "at the margin" when describing significant or large-scale changes. The phrase implies a minor adjustment, not a complete overhaul.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the margin" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the degree or extent of an action or state. It indicates that something occurs on the edge or limit of something else, representing a slight or incremental change. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the margin" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to describe small or incremental effects, particularly in analytical contexts. It's most commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While the phrase is generally used correctly, it is important to ensure you use it to describe minor changes and not something on a large scale. Related phrases such as "on the periphery" or "marginally" can provide similar meaning with slight differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the edge

Implies a position right on the boundary, similar to the original phrase.

at the boundary

Highlights the limiting aspect of the original phrase.

on the border

Like "at the edge", suggests a location at the limit.

on the periphery

Focuses more on the spatial aspect of being on the edge.

at the extremity

Emphasizes the position at the very end or outermost point.

on the fringes

Suggests being outside the main group or area.

marginally

An adverb form conveying a slight degree or amount.

in a limited way

Focuses on the restricted impact or scope.

to a minor degree

Highlights the insubstantial or small quantity.

to a small extent

Emphasizes the slight or incremental nature of the effect.

FAQs

How can I use "at the margin" in a sentence?

You can use "at the margin" to describe small changes or effects, such as "At the margin, these policy changes have a slight positive impact on the economy".

What does "at the margin" mean in economic terms?

In economics, "at the margin" refers to the effect of one additional unit of input or output. It focuses on the incremental impact of a change, for example "at the margin, the cost of producing one more unit is X".

What are some alternatives to saying "at the margin"?

You can use alternatives such as "on the periphery", "to a small extent", or "marginally" depending on the context.

Is "at the margin" formal or informal?

"At the margin" is generally considered neutral to formal, suitable for academic, business, and news contexts. It is less common in informal conversation.