by a thin margin

USAGE SUMMARY

'by a thin margin' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a narrow difference, usually in a contest or election. For example: "John won the election by a thin margin of five votes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

In 2014, she was re-elected by a thin margin after an especially divisive campaign.

The New York Times

In 2001, he was elected by a thin margin and with less than 30% of the vote.

The Economist

Trump won Pennsylvania by a thin margin, and four of the 20 House Republicans who voted against the health-care bill were from that state.

The Washington Post

In 1993, Mr. Florio was cast into exile by a thin margin, becoming the only governor in New Jersey's modern history to be denied a second term.

The New York Times

While Ms. Rousseff won by a thin margin, the tumultuous race was marked by accusations of corruption, personal insults and heated debates, revealing climbing polarization in Brazil.

The New York Times

After hours of suspense, Republican officials also called him the winner by a thin margin in Colorado, giving him an entirely remarkable clean sweep of all three states.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

It was the first quarter that "This Week" beat "Meet the Press" in 16 years, though it did so by just a thin margin (2.532 million total viewers to 2.513 million).

Huffington Post

For what it's worth, some oddsmakers are sticking with Tagovailoa as the favorite, albeit by a thinner margin, while others have switched.

Los Angeles Times

But when put to a popular vote, Colombians on Sunday said no, even if by a razor thin margin.

The Guardian

Currently, Labour hold it by a razor thin margin.

The Guardian

It may well boost his standing after he won re-election in July by a surprisingly thin margin.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing election results or competitive scenarios, using "by a thin margin" effectively conveys the closeness of the outcome. Enhance clarity by specifying the exact difference or percentage, for example, "won by a thin margin of 2%."

Common error

Avoid using "by a thin margin" when the difference is substantial or clearly significant. The phrase is most appropriate when the outcome is very close and could have easily gone the other way.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by a thin margin" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe how something was achieved or to what extent something occurred. As Ludwig AI explains, it highlights that the action was completed with minimal difference.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by a thin margin" is a correct and commonly used prepositional phrase to describe a situation where the outcome is very close. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for describing a narrow difference, often in elections or competitions. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts and is considered to be neutral in register. To enhance your writing, ensure the context accurately reflects a close outcome and specify the numerical difference when possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by a narrow margin

Replaces "thin" with "narrow", maintaining the same meaning of a small difference.

by a slim margin

Substitutes "thin" with "slim", which also suggests a small or slight difference.

by a slight difference

Changes the structure to emphasize the small difference rather than the margin.

by a hair's breadth

Uses an idiom to describe the narrowness of the victory or difference.

by a whisker

Another idiomatic expression indicating a very close outcome.

barely

A single word to indicate the minimum effort to achieve the result.

by a close call

Highlights the precarious nature of the situation and the narrow escape.

by a nose

Idiomatic phrase used to denote winning by the smallest of leads, usually in racing.

with minimal lead

Emphasizes the small lead or advantage.

just barely

Highlights the minimum amount required for achieving the result.

FAQs

How can I use "by a thin margin" in a sentence?

Use "by a thin margin" to indicate that someone won, succeeded, or passed something with only a small amount to spare. For example, "The bill passed the Senate "by a thin margin"."

What can I say instead of "by a thin margin"?

You can use alternatives like "by a narrow margin", "by a slim margin", or "by a slight difference" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "by a thin margin" in formal writing?

Yes, "by a thin margin" is suitable for formal writing, especially in news reports, academic papers, and business documents where you need to describe a close result or outcome.

What's the difference between "by a thin margin" and "by a landslide"?

"By a thin margin" indicates a very close result, whereas "by a landslide" suggests an overwhelming victory. They are opposites in meaning.