by a tiny margin

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'by a tiny margin' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are discussing a situation in which one result was very close to another, and one result was only slightly ahead. For example, "The team won by a tiny margin - they only scored one more point than their opponents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

"It's past it by a tiny margin.

Independent

And that is what has finally happened, if only by a tiny margin.

The New York Times

Ed won by a tiny margin, 1.3%, and thanks to the union vote.

The Guardian

"This race will be decided by a tiny margin," Mr. Himes said.

The New York Times

This is Pick Of The Week runner up by a tiny margin.

The Guardian - Music

Mr. Peres saw his lead wiped out, and then lost the election by a tiny margin.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

They have claimed there was a conspiracy to rig the election, and they have argued that because Mr. Kenyatta skirted a runoff by such a tiny margin, some 8,000 votes out of more than 12 million, the errors that have been discovered are enough to mandate a new election.

The New York Times

When comparing Banff to other ski destinations, consider the numbers: Lake Louise is (by just a tiny margin) the third largest resort in Canada in skiable acreage, bigger than Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Panorama or Red Mountain.

Forbes

That money could have come in handy as Stearns lost by only 800 votes in Tuesday night's primary, a tiny margin for a congressional race.

Huffington Post

In November 2009, Pelosi passed a bill containing the public option by a tiny 220-215 margin.

Vice

The failure of the T4 statistic of CLUMP to reach the χ2 significance of 0.05, even by the tiny margin observed, is an indicator that additional studies in larger, but still tightly localised populations should be carried out to more accurately determine the strength and nature of the effect that this SIPA1 SNP has on breast cancer risk.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by a tiny margin" to clearly convey the closeness of a victory, defeat, or difference. This emphasizes the significance of even small advantages or disadvantages.

Common error

Avoid using "by a tiny margin" when the actual difference is substantial. This phrase is most effective when results are nearly identical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by a tiny margin" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the extent or degree of an action. It specifies how something was achieved or to what degree a difference exists. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by a tiny margin" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that indicates a close or narrow difference. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to emphasize the closeness of a result, and is observed most often in News & Media. While alternatives exist, "by a tiny margin" is a clear and effective way to convey a minimal difference. Be mindful not to exaggerate its use to situation in which there are wide and considerable differences. Top sources include The New York Times, The Guardian, The Economist, BBC, and Independent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by a narrow difference

Replaces "tiny margin" with a synonymous phrase focusing on the smallness of the difference.

by a slim lead

Substitutes "margin" with "lead", emphasizing a slight advantage.

barely

A single word, but it captures the sense of achieving something with very little to spare.

by the skin of one's teeth

An idiomatic expression that amplifies the precariousness of the result.

by a hair's breadth

Another idiom that stresses the minimal amount separating success from failure.

by a whisker

Similar to "by a hair's breadth", this emphasizes how close the results were.

by a close call

Highlights the element of risk or near-failure involved.

by a fraction

Focuses on the minute quantity that determined the outcome.

by the slightest amount

Emphasizes the minimal quantity differentiating results.

almost imperceptibly

This alternative stresses how difficult it was to even notice the difference.

FAQs

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

You can use "by a tiny margin" to describe a situation where something is achieved or won by a very small amount, such as "The bill passed by the Senate "by a tiny margin"".

What are some alternatives to "by a tiny margin"?

Alternatives include "by a narrow difference", "by a slim lead", or "barely", which all convey the idea of a very small advantage or difference.

Is it correct to say "won by a tiny margin"?

Yes, "won "by a tiny margin"" is a perfectly acceptable and commonly used phrase to describe a victory achieved by a small difference.

What's the difference between "by a tiny margin" and "by a large margin"?

"By a tiny margin" indicates a very close result, while "by a large margin" suggests a significant difference or an overwhelming victory.