borderline

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "borderline" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to something that is near the limit of what is acceptable or possible. For example, "His test score was borderline passing, so he had to take the course again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An average of recent polls by Real Clear Politics has Perry tenth in the race for the nomination with 2.3%, making him a borderline candidate for inclusion in the first televised GOP debate on Fox News in August.

The Guardian

The Ebola crisis is expected to lop off as much as $6bn off the GDP output of the entire sub-Saharan region in 2015 The borderline hysterical media reaction to the Ebola epidemic – much of it spurred by the unlikely incursion of the virus into the US and UK – can be explained because it dovetails with this familiar narrative.

The Guardian

He has a family history of learning difficulties and borderline intellectual functioning, though the jury at his 1991 trial heard little about that.

The Guardian

Being borderline solvent, she had a borderline car.

The Guardian - Travel

It's all shit and sticks, small picture, borderline illegal stuff – a nudge here, a sharp-elbowed run there.

The Guardian - Sport

Another described his discomfort at working in his firm's corporate-finance department and supporting what he described as "immoral" and "borderline corrupt" tax wheezes.

The Guardian - Opinion

But at the float price of 330p, or even 400p, it would be a borderline candidate.

The Guardian - Business

But the people who manage the multi-billion-dollar portfolios find such thinking borderline incomprehensible.

The Guardian

The researchers found that drinking more than one glass of milk a day was associated with an increase in deaths and fractures in women and a borderline rise in the risk for men of dying from heart disease.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(Bond vigilantes don't eliminate this epistemological uncertainty, but they certainly provide a useful indication).I'm not suggesting that America should actively seek to discard its AAA rating; no one can confidently predict the consequences of what was a borderline inconceivable scenario only six months ago.

The Economist

He described conditions in two prisons, La Santé in Paris and Les Baumettes in Marseilles, as "on the borderline of human dignity".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "borderline" to describe a condition or situation, ensure the context clearly indicates what boundary or standard is being approached. For example, "borderline acceptable" or "borderline competence" provides clearer meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "borderline" to overstate the intensity of a situation. "Borderline" suggests proximity to a threshold, not a severe or extreme condition. Be careful not to use it to suggest a complete violation or transgression; it implies nearness, not arrival.

Linguistic Context

The word "borderline" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate proximity to a boundary or threshold. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It also functions as a noun to describe a boundary or an individual with borderline personality disorder.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "borderline" is a versatile term, primarily used as an adjective, to describe something close to a defined limit or threshold. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media, and formal settings. While generally neutral in tone, its effective use requires clear context to specify the boundary in question. Be mindful of the word's implications of proximity rather than full transgression. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase the breadth of its application, from describing political candidates to financial health, offering valuable insights for nuanced writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginal case

Refers to a situation or instance that barely meets a certain criterion or standard.

close to the boundary

Emphasizes the nearness to a defined limit or separation.

on the edge

Suggests a state of being close to a limit or boundary, often implying instability or transition.

on the threshold

Highlights a point of transition or beginning.

at the periphery

Indicates being on the outer edge or boundary of something.

in between

Indicates a position or state that is intermediate or ambiguous.

intermediate

Signifies a position or state between two extremes.

nearly acceptable

Suggests something that almost meets the required standards, but not quite.

approaching the limit

Describes the act of getting close to a maximum threshold.

quasi

Indicates resemblance without complete identity; nearly or somewhat.

FAQs

How can I use "borderline" in a sentence?

You can use "borderline" to describe something that is close to a limit or boundary. For example: "His performance was "borderline acceptable"" or "The situation is "borderline unacceptable"".

What are some alternatives to the word "borderline"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "marginal", "on the edge", or "nearly".

Is it better to say "borderline" or "almost"?

Both words imply nearness to a limit, but "borderline" often suggests a defined threshold or standard, while "almost" is more general. For example, "borderline diabetic" implies proximity to a clinical diagnosis, whereas "almost finished" simply means nearing completion.

Can "borderline" be used in a positive context?

Yes, it can. For example, "borderline genius" suggests someone is nearly at the level of genius, but it's more commonly used in neutral or negative contexts, such as "borderline illegal" or ""borderline unacceptable"".