marginal improvement

USAGE SUMMARY

"marginal improvement" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a small or slight improvement in a situation. For example: "Although there was a marginal improvement in our sales this year, we still need to focus on increasing revenue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is not some marginal improvement.

The Guardian - Tech

"There may be marginal improvement, but not much".

The New York Times

"China now needs a paradigm shift, not marginal improvement.

The New York Times - Sports

Finances are cautiously on the up, too, with another marginal improvement in revenues last year.

The Guardian - Sport

But instead, western officials have now backed away from demanding even marginal improvement.

The Guardian - Opinion

Is this fundamental or is this just a marginal improvement to their lives?

The Guardian

But hunters throughout the Mediterranean are now seizing on this marginal improvement and pushing back.

The New Yorker

But every two-bedroom he saw was too expensive, and moving to a one-bedroom seemed like a marginal improvement.

The New York Times

This year Uganda shares 16th place with neighbouring Ethiopia, a marginal improvement from its previous ranking of 15th place.

The Guardian

He said the numbers indicated some marginal improvement in the labor market, but "they are still not strong enough".

The New York Times

This mayonnaise, seeking that marginal improvement, contains two kinds of oil and three sources of acidity.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "marginal improvement", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being improved and the scope of the improvement. This helps to avoid ambiguity and provides a clearer picture of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "marginal improvement" when the change is actually substantial. Overusing it can diminish the impact of genuine achievements. Instead, reserve it for scenarios where progress is genuinely limited.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginal improvement" typically functions as a noun phrase, where "marginal" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "improvement". It describes the extent or degree of the improvement. Ludwig AI, confirms its frequent usage and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

29%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "marginal improvement" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes a small or slight positive change. According to Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts, including news, science, and business, maintaining a neutral register. While synonymous alternatives like "slight betterment" and "minor enhancement" exist, it's crucial to use the phrase appropriately, avoiding overstatement and ensuring clear context. The consistently high source quality further validates its reliability in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight betterment

Replaces "improvement" with "betterment", emphasizing the positive change in a more general sense.

minor enhancement

Uses "enhancement" instead of "improvement", suggesting an addition that makes something better.

small advance

Substitutes both words for synonyms suggesting a step forward that is not very significant.

modest gain

Replaces "improvement" with "gain", focusing on the achievement or benefit obtained.

limited progress

Highlights the restriction in the amount of progress made, conveying a similar sense of small scale.

negligible advancement

Uses "negligible" to emphasize that the improvement is so small it's almost not worth mentioning.

inconsequential upgrade

Indicates that the upgrade or change is of little importance or significance.

minute development

Conveys that the development is extremely small or tiny in scale.

tiny step forward

Emphasizes the small size of the step taken, minimizing the perceived progress.

barely perceptible change

Indicates that the change is so subtle that it's hard to notice or measure.

FAQs

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

You can use "marginal improvement" to describe a situation where something has gotten slightly better. For example, "There was a "marginal improvement" in sales this quarter compared to last quarter".

What are some alternatives to "marginal improvement"?

Alternatives to "marginal improvement" include phrases like "slight betterment", "minor enhancement", or "small advance", depending on the context.

Is "marginal improvement" the same as "significant improvement"?

No, "marginal improvement" indicates a small or slight positive change, while "significant improvement" suggests a much larger, more noticeable positive change. They are used in contrasting situations.

When is it appropriate to use "marginal improvement"?

Use "marginal improvement" when you want to downplay the degree of progress or when the improvement is so small that it barely makes a difference. It's suitable in situations where you don't want to overstate the positive change.