marginal impact

USAGE SUMMARY

"marginal impact" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a minor or minimal effect or influence, often stemming from something small or insignificant. For example, "The new policy had a marginal impact on company productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Even this marginal impact is debatable.

The Washington Post

Mr. Lawitts said the delays and overruns would have only a "marginal" impact on water rates.

The New York Times - Science

Such plans would, at best, have a marginal impact on the bank-insolvency problem.

The New Yorker

"It'll make a little marginal impact in the First District, but not substantial" statewide.

The New York Times

Their research suggested higher peak fares would have only a marginal impact on travel patterns.

The Guardian

Other concessions offered by Mr. Brown appeared to have had only a marginal impact on the vote.

The New York Times

Furthermore, the project׳s lifetime only has a marginal impact on the Net Present Value.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

This week's defections and realignments may well have only a marginal impact on the likely outcomes of these votes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Embedded depth of monopile beyond critical depth has marginal impact on design.

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

On the other hand, α has only a marginal impact on the sonochemical effect.

Chemical Engineering Science

The company's operations in both countries include onshore and offshore fields but have a marginal impact on BP's overall production.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "marginal impact", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being impacted and the degree to which the impact is considered small or insignificant. Quantifying the impact, even if approximate, can strengthen your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "marginal impact" when the actual effect is significant. Ensure your assessment of the impact's size is accurate to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginal impact" functions as a noun phrase, where "marginal" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "impact". According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, highlighting its grammatical validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "marginal impact" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that has a minimal effect. As indicated by Ludwig, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. While alternatives like "slight effect" or "minimal influence" exist, "marginal impact" effectively conveys the insignificance of an outcome. When using this phrase, ensure that the context supports the assessment of the impact's size to maintain accuracy and credibility. Also be accurate when choosing this form because it has to describe properly a scenario where other options are available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight effect

Focuses on the outcome being small, replacing "impact" with a more direct term for result.

minimal effect

Emphasizes the near absence of a significant change or result.

negligible consequence

Highlights the insignificance of the outcome or result.

limited influence

Shifts the focus to the capacity to affect something, rather than the outcome itself.

minor consequence

Indicates that the result or outcome is not important or serious.

small effect

Replaces "impact" with "effect" to denote a limited result or change.

inconsequential outcome

Highlights the unimportance of the final result.

modest influence

Suggests a restrained or limited power to affect something.

peripheral effect

Indicates that the effect is not central or directly relevant.

superficial consequence

The outcome doesn't have depth or lasting effect.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "marginal impact" in a sentence?

Use "marginal impact" to describe situations where an action or event has a small or insignificant effect. For example, "The new policy had a "marginal impact" on employee morale."

What are some alternatives to saying "marginal impact"?

You can use alternatives like "slight effect", "minimal effect", or "negligible consequence" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "marginal impact" and "minor impact"?

While both phrases suggest a small effect, "marginal impact" often implies that the effect is so small as to be almost negligible. "Minor impact" simply indicates that the effect is small but still noticeable.

When is it appropriate to use "marginal impact" instead of "significant impact"?

Use "marginal impact" when the effect is small and unimportant, while "significant impact" should be used when the effect is substantial and noteworthy.