marginal concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"marginal concern" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means something that is of little importance or relevance. One could use this phrase in a sentence like: "Although the company's profits were soaring, the environmental impact of their operations was a marginal concern for their executives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

But no one at CNN is arguing that prime time is a marginal concern.

The New York Times

Security has gone from a marginal concern to the very heart of American interactions with other countries.

The New York Times - Magazine

And yet the struggle to end, finally, this most abject form of exploitation remains of marginal concern in the development community.

The Guardian

A marginal concern for some crime researchers, however, was a rise in violent crime in towns with populations under 10,000.

The New York Times

If it weren't for digital production and its potential for worldwide distribution on social media, the Islamic State might be of marginal concern outside of the Arab world.

The New Yorker

Or, rather, to reveal that it had been there all along, and that race, far from being a special or marginal concern, was a central facet of the American story.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Until we decide to address economic inequality, debates about campaign-finance rules are marginal concerns.

The New Yorker

There is a much larger group whose interest in politics is essentially parochial pocketbook voters for whom foreign entanglements are marginal concerns.

The Economist

Wollaston expanded on her own views on BBC Radio 4, partly blaming the decision on Lynton Crosby, the Conservatives' general election co-ordinator credited with telling Cameron to "scrape the barnacles off the boat" – meaning that he should focus on core issues such as immigration and not waste political capital on more marginal concerns.

The Guardian

It manifests a commitment to ecological and social health that shifts what are frequently seen as marginal concerns to core business principles, a move that effectively supports sustainable economic growth.

Huffington Post

It's a perverse thing to be, or become, a poet, and always has been, given how starkly marginal a concern, relative to the larger culture, poetry is.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "marginal concern", ensure the context clearly establishes what the primary or more significant concerns are. This provides a contrast that emphasizes the low importance of the marginal concern.

Common error

Avoid using "marginal concern" when the issue is actually significant or has potential for serious consequences. This can downplay legitimate worries and mislead the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginal concern" functions as a noun phrase, where "marginal" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "concern". It describes a concern that is of secondary importance or significance. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "marginal concern" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, as validated by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe a concern of low importance or relevance. While not as frequent as other similar phrases, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the context clearly defines what the more significant concerns are, providing a necessary contrast. Alternatives such as "minor worry" or "negligible issue" may be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry", implying a slightly lesser degree of anxiety.

slight apprehension

Substitutes "concern" with the more formal "apprehension" and uses "slight" to indicate the low degree of worry.

negligible issue

Replaces "concern" with "issue" and uses "negligible" to highlight its insignificance.

peripheral anxiety

Uses "anxiety" instead of "concern", and "peripheral" to suggest it's not central.

inconsequential consideration

Replaces both words to indicate that something is not important and needs little thought.

secondary priority

Frames the concern as something lower in importance relative to other priorities.

tertiary issue

Indicates the issue is even less important that a secondary priority.

small reservation

Uses "reservation" instead of "concern", connoting a slight feeling of doubt or unease.

fleeting thought

Suggests the concern is temporary and not worth dwelling on.

passing fancy

Implies the concern is superficial and lacks depth.

FAQs

How can I use "marginal concern" in a sentence?

You can use "marginal concern" to describe something that is not a primary focus or is of little importance in a given situation. For example, "The environmental impact was a "marginal concern" compared to the immediate economic benefits."

What are some alternatives to "marginal concern"?

Some alternatives include "minor worry", "slight apprehension", or "negligible issue" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "marginal concern" in formal writing?

Yes, "marginal concern" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly when you need to clearly distinguish between issues of varying importance. However, ensure that the tone aligns with the overall formality of the piece.

What is the difference between "marginal concern" and "primary concern"?

"Marginal concern" refers to something of lesser importance, while "primary concern" denotes the most important or pressing issue. Using one over the other significantly alters the emphasis of your statement.