marginal influence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marginal influence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or minor effect that something has on a situation or outcome. Example: "The study found that the new policy had only a marginal influence on employee productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Of increasingly marginal influence.

The Guardian - Film

Incorporation of particle has a marginal influence on the composition.

Surface and Coatings Technology

He will have no more than a marginal influence on the Jets' season.

The New York Times

Then Ruth Bader Ginsburg, "frail" and "shy" and, Toobin says, with only marginal influence on her colleagues.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, however, the Council of Trent and the rise of Calvinism ensured that such views were generally of marginal influence.

Britannica

Under normal circumstances, this faction — composing less than 20percentt of the House Republican caucus — might exercise a marginal influence.

The Washington Post

These factors may have a marginal influence on salary; they have no bearing at all on hierarchical layers.

Harvard Business Review

Poising potential during start up phase showed a marginal influence on the power output.

Bioresource Technology

Incorporation of copper has marginal influence on the nickel, phosphorus and tungsten contents of the coatings.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Results show that use of internal heat exchanger has marginal influence on system performance.

International Journal of Refrigeration

Internal heat exchanger effectiveness and compressor isentropic efficiency shows marginal influence on the system performance.

International Journal of Thermal Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "marginal influence", ensure that the context clearly reflects the nuanced meaning of a small, but not necessarily insignificant, impact. Avoid using it when the effect is truly negligible or nonexistent.

Common error

Avoid using "marginal influence" when the effect is completely absent. "Marginal" implies some degree of influence, however small. Instead, use phrases like "no influence" or "no effect" if there's truly no impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginal influence" functions as a noun phrase, where "marginal" is an adjective modifying the noun "influence". It describes the extent or degree of impact something has. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, showing that it typically modifies an action or decision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "marginal influence" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that signifies a small or minor effect. As Ludwig AI indicates, its proper application involves contexts where an impact exists but is of limited significance. The phrase is most common in scientific and news media, suggesting a formal to neutral register. When employing this phrase, ensure you're accurately portraying the level of impact; alternatives such as "minor impact" or "slight effect" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor impact

Replaces "influence" with "impact", suggesting a similar but potentially less sustained effect.

slight effect

Substitutes both "marginal" and "influence" with simpler terms emphasizing the small degree of impact.

limited effect

Focuses on the restricted nature of the impact, similar to "marginal".

minimal impact

Highlights the insignificance of the effect, akin to "marginal".

negligible influence

Emphasizes that the influence is so small it can almost be disregarded.

inconsequential effect

Indicates the effect is not important or significant.

secondary effect

Suggests the effect is not primary or main.

small impact

Directly describes the impact as being of a reduced size or extent.

peripheral effect

Indicates that the effect is at the edge and not central.

modest influence

Suggests the influence is limited and not extensive.

FAQs

What does "marginal influence" mean?

The phrase "marginal influence" refers to a small or minor effect that something has on a situation or outcome. It implies the influence exists, but it's not a major factor.

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

You can use "marginal influence" to describe something that has a limited impact. For example: "The new policy had only a "marginal influence" on employee productivity."

What are some alternatives to "marginal influence"?

You can use alternatives like "slight effect", "minor impact", or "limited effect" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "minimal influence" instead of "marginal influence"?

Yes, "minimal influence" is a valid alternative. While both suggest a small impact, "minimal" might imply an even smaller effect than "marginal", but the difference is subtle.