except for a marginal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for a marginal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an exception or a small degree of something in a particular context. Example: "The project was successful, except for a marginal increase in costs that we hadn't anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

MEs had no effect on stomatal abundance traits, except for a marginal influence on leaf SD (R = 2·9).

Annals of Botany

Baseline CA 19-9 did not predict QOL during chemotherapy, except for a marginal effect on pain (P<0.05).

British Journal of Cancer

Nevertheless, none of the combat behaviour was correlated with SDI or body size, except for a marginal correlation between SDI and male territory defence (p = 0.09; Table 3).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

At noncytotoxic concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1 and 3 μg/ml), short-term CLA treatment did not reduce IL-6 levels, except for a marginal, but significant, reduction at 3 μg/ml.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

In three control rod recordings, 100 µM MFA was superfused with essentially no effect, except for a marginal reduction in light sensitivity that we attribute to the normal rundown observed during long rod recordings.

eLife

Further analysis by generalised linear models (GLMs) suggested that no significant inter-species associations remained when spatio-temporal and host variables were accounted for, except for a marginal positive relationship of P. serrata to C. hepaticum infection (P = 0.041).

BMC Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

But the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.

BBC

As a result, statistical significance, assessed using a correction for multiple testing, showed no association with Type 2 diabetes, except for rs4073397 with a marginal association.

Diabetic Medicine

There was no evidence of carry-over effects between subjects except for the AQ (parent) AUC, no period effect except for total DHA AUC and no drug effects within subjects between the two formulations except a marginal effect for AQ and DEQA AUC.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

At 22 months, no significant correlations were found, except a marginal one for green vegetables.

Appetite

Nor did I participate in a Zionist youth movement (except for a brief and marginal tie to Young Judaea in 1966).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When the context allows, replace "except for a marginal" with simpler phrases like "with a slight", "besides a minimal" or "apart from a small" to improve readability.

Common error

Avoid using "except for a marginal" when the exception is actually significant. If the exception noticeably changes the outcome or meaning, a stronger phrase is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for a marginal" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a qualification or exception to a preceding statement. It indicates that what follows is an exclusion or limitation, albeit a minor one. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

21%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "except for a marginal" serves as a prepositional phrase to introduce a minor qualification or exception to a statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, primarily in scientific and journalistic contexts. While "except for a marginal" is not extremely common, it is a useful expression for adding precision, indicating that the exception doesn't substantially alter the overall meaning. Alternatives include phrases like "aside from a slight" or "other than a minimal". When writing, ensure the exception is genuinely minor; otherwise, a stronger phrasing is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aside from a slight

Emphasizes a small deviation from a general statement.

other than a minimal

Highlights the insignificance of the exception.

save for a small

Implies that an exception is present, but doesn't alter the main point.

but for a trivial

Underscores the unimportance of the exception.

excepting a minor

Formally specifies an exception that is small.

with the exception of a modest

A more formal and lengthy way to point out a small exception.

apart from a negligible

Focuses on the lack of impact of the exception.

excluding an inconsequential

Directly omits something that is insignificant.

barring a limited

Suggests the exception doesn't affect the big picture.

outside of a reduced

Specifies something is not included, being of little importance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "except for a marginal"?

You can use alternatives such as "aside from a slight", "other than a minimal", or "save for a small" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "except for a marginal" in formal writing?

Yes, the phrase "except for a marginal" is suitable for formal writing, especially in scientific or technical contexts, where precise qualifications are necessary. However, in less formal contexts, you may prefer simpler alternatives.

What does "except for a marginal" imply about the exception?

It implies that the exception is small, unimportant, or has little effect on the overall statement being made. It indicates that the main point remains valid despite the slight deviation.

When should I avoid using the phrase "except for a marginal"?

Avoid using "except for a marginal" when the exception is significant enough to substantially alter the meaning of your statement. In such cases, use a more direct and impactful phrasing to highlight the exception's importance.