marginal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marginal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is of secondary importance or significance, or something that exists at the edge or margin of a particular area or concept. Example: "The changes made to the policy were marginal and did not significantly impact the overall outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The study suggests that in 168 marginal seats, the ethnic minority vote is bigger than the majority of the sitting MP.

The Guardian

This indirect electoral maths suggests that Ukip's outsize influence on the national debate (relative to their parliamentary presence) could be set to continue as the major parties seek to fend off the threat in their key marginal constituencies.

The Guardian

McGowan says it will be days before it is known whether she has beaten Mirabella, but said she has succeeded in making the seat of Indi marginal.

The Guardian

Leonard also talks about Britain being a diminished presence internationally – "Berlin would be the first port of call for any US president – we would be marginal" – before we chew over one of the most practical questions at stake.

The Guardian

Better Together nailed down who Scotland's undecided voters were and where they lived: it treated Scotland as one vast marginal constituency, not a patchwork of regions.

The Guardian

The SNP said that all five Labour candidates in marginal seats in Scotland who received donations from Blair should reject them.

The Guardian

The Tories are eyeing seats like Labour-held marginal Birmingham Northfield and Walsall North where the Conservatives came a close second in both 2010.

The Guardian

While all 11 Lib Dem MPs have seats in areas that voted no in the referendum, the party came second in several key Labour seats, including the most marginal seat in Scotland, Edinburgh South.

The Guardian

The UK's biggest, but struggling, retailer has so far chosen to focus on rather marginal activities to bring back its customers – new bakeries, Giraffe restaurants, Hudl computers.

The Guardian - Business

There are, of course, Basque cultural organisations in the city, such as Harrobia Bilbao, a performing arts group established in a former church in the Otxarkoaga area in 2011, but their presence feels surprisingly marginal in a city that is supposed to be at the heart of Basque culture.

The Guardian

For 2015, the Conservative strategy is to try to hold their 40 most marginal seats and gain 40 more to give them outright power.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, quantify the degree of "marginal" when possible. For instance, instead of saying "marginal improvement", specify "a 5% marginal improvement".

Common error

Avoid using "marginal" when a stronger term like "insignificant" or "negligible" is more appropriate. Overusing "marginal" can dilute the impact of your writing. Make sure that you are clear that it is about constituencies with small winning margins.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "marginal" primarily functions to qualify a noun, indicating that something is of secondary importance, located at an edge or border, or barely meeting a standard. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. This means that the word can be used in multiple contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "marginal" is a versatile adjective with multiple meanings, as validated by Ludwig AI. It can refer to something of minor importance, something located at the edge, or a situation with a small margin of error or victory. Its usage is widespread, particularly in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific discussions. When using "marginal", clarify the context to ensure the intended meaning is clear, whether it's a marginal improvement, marginal land, or a marginal seat in an election. The term is considered grammatically correct and is valuable in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slight

Indicates a small degree or amount of something, emphasizing the smallness of the change or difference.

Minimal

Highlights the bare minimum or least possible amount, suggesting something is as small as it can be.

Insignificant

Conveys a lack of importance or consequence, emphasizing the unimportance of something.

Negligible

Suggests something is so small or unimportant that it can be disregarded or ignored.

Peripheral

Indicates something is on the edge or boundary, not central or of primary importance.

Borderline

Refers to something that is close to a limit or threshold, often implying uncertainty or risk.

Minor

Indicates a small or less important degree of something, emphasizing its relative insignificance.

Limited

Highlights the restricted or constrained nature of something, suggesting it is not extensive or abundant.

Nominal

Suggests something exists in name only or is very small and insignificant.

Secondary

Implies something is of less importance than a primary or main element.

FAQs

How can I use "marginal" in a sentence?

The word "marginal" can be used to describe something of secondary importance, like "The impact of the change was "marginal"". It can also describe something near an edge, such as "marginal land".

What are some alternatives to "marginal"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "slight", "minimal", or "insignificant" as replacements for "marginal".

Which is correct, "marginal" or "marginally"?

"Marginal" is an adjective, while "marginally" is an adverb. Use "marginal" to describe a noun (e.g., "marginal benefit") and "marginally" to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., "marginally better").

What's the difference between "marginal" and "minor"?

While both indicate something small, "marginal" often implies being at the edge or a limit, or having a small chance of success. "Minor" simply indicates something is less important or significant without the implication of being near a limit. For example, you can say "minor improvement" but rarely "marginal accident".