marginal modifications

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marginal modifications" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to small or minor changes made to something, often in a technical or academic context. Example: "The study focused on the effects of marginal modifications to the existing software to improve its performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Because marginal modifications might massively influence the efficacy of a mAb, every new therapeutic mAb should thoroughly be examined in vitro concerning its FcγR interactions, focusing especially on the compartments this interaction will likely take place in.

Nature

It is shown that taking into account the QC effects leads to marginal modifications of the predicted evaporation/condensation coefficient, particularly at temperatures which are not close to the critical temperature.

Fuel

This implies that the changes to it are necessarily slow and efforts of change face significant difficulties, unless they are marginal modifications or additions.

European Journal of Futures Research

The advantage of this strategy is that the common IDM-STC detection scheme could be applied with only marginal modifications to the system, e.g., the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code has to be exploited by the relays in order to determine the decoding success and to adaptively select only the correctly decoded messages.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

We used a previously developed survey with only marginal modifications.

BMJ Open

The CBMN test was performed according to the original method [ 33] with marginal modifications for adaptation to A549 cells.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

In the highlands (Alta Murgia) karst crops out in different forms and textures which have been preserved up to the 1970s: little evolved agriculture and sheep rearing produced only a marginal modification of the epikarst while a high degree of division into parcels by drystone walls helped in preserving soils from erosion.

Engineering Geology

No decrease in molecular weight of PP was observed, indicating that chain scission is marginal compared to melt modification.

Polymer

Such quality can be achieved through adoption of basic system modifications, coupled with marginal increases in funding that are within the reach of developing countries.

BMC Health Services Research

In an offset frontal crash test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the rating for the 2005 Escape improved from marginal to acceptable because of structural modifications.

The New York Times

These observations concur with previous diagnoses of the fauna as primarily non-anthropogenic [54], [60] [61], and indicate that hyenas, although present in the assemblage, may have played a marginal role in its accumulation and modification.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "marginal modifications", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being modified. Specify the original item or system to which the changes are being applied for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "marginal modifications" to describe changes that have a significant impact. This phrase implies small, relatively unimportant alterations; using it for substantial changes can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginal modifications" functions as a noun phrase where "marginal" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "modifications". It indicates that the changes being discussed are minor or small in extent. Ludwig AI examples show usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "marginal modifications" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, primarily in scientific and academic contexts, to describe minor or small changes. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. When using "marginal modifications", it's crucial to ensure that the context accurately reflects the limited scope of the changes being discussed and that you are specific about what is being modified. Common alternatives include "slight alterations" or "minor adjustments", which convey a similar meaning. Remember to avoid overstating the impact of modifications described as "marginal".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight alterations

This alternative replaces both words with synonyms, focusing on the small degree of change.

minor adjustments

This option emphasizes the act of adjusting something to be slightly different.

small revisions

Revisions suggests a more formal process of change, often in written material.

subtle changes

This highlights the difficulty in noticing the changes, implying they are not immediately apparent.

minimal alterations

This emphasizes that the changes are kept to the lowest degree possible.

modest adjustments

This suggests the changes are not excessive or extravagant.

limited revisions

This suggests that the changes are bounded and not extensive.

incremental changes

This indicates a series of small changes over time, rather than one single large change.

superficial changes

This implies the changes are only on the surface and do not affect the underlying substance.

cosmetic changes

This suggests the changes are primarily for appearance and have little functional impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "marginal modifications" to describe small changes made to something. For example, "The software update included only "marginal modifications" to the user interface."

What's a good alternative to "marginal modifications"?

Alternatives include "slight alterations", "minor adjustments", or "subtle changes", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "marginal modifications"?

It's appropriate when describing changes that are small in scope and impact, not fundamentally altering the thing being modified.

What is the difference between "marginal modifications" and "significant changes"?

"Marginal modifications" refer to small, often inconsequential alterations, whereas "significant changes" indicate substantial and impactful transformations.