marginal number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marginal number of" is not commonly used in written English and may be unclear in meaning.
It could be used in contexts discussing small or insignificant quantities, particularly in academic or analytical writing. Example: "The study revealed a marginal number of participants who reported adverse effects."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Hungary A "marginal number" of inquiries expressing fear after the referendum.

The Guardian

It's been predictably mixed: fiery giddiness or ice-cold disdain, with a marginal number of standoffish "Let's see what she comes up with this time" comments thrown in for good measure.

The Guardian - Books

Nevertheless, long-term efficacy has been limited to a marginal number of patients.

Current Opinion in Biotechnology

The results clearly show that only a marginal number of the HCWs in all three fields currently recommend vaccine use for pregnant women and healthy young children.

Vaccine

Obviously, there is an imbalance between the large number of micro enterprises and the marginal number of small and medium sized businesses.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Under field conditions, the inoculant R. irregularis MUCL 41833 was detected at a very low level (between 10−5 and 10−7 ng/ ng total DNA) in a marginal number of plants, in contrast to native R. irregularis strains that were detected at higher levels (between 10−4 and 10−6 ng/ ng total DNA) in all plants of the three cultivars.

Applied Soil Ecology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

In contrast, all of the remaining areas including the Pacific coast, High plateau and Sonoran Desert (Northwest region) have had marginal numbers of diversifications with some of the sub-areas having none.

Plosone

A single case report suggested that tissue collected after previous chemotherapy may contain marginal numbers of follicles with subsequent transient functional capacity after reimplantation (Radford et al, 2001).

British Journal of Cancer

Compared to systemic injection, this approach led to significantly greater, but still marginal, numbers of injected cells that survive in the infarct area and eventually contribute to tissue regeneration [ 114].

Fibrogenesis and Tissue Repair

Altogether only a marginal number (0.02 – 0.04%) of the 3,064,324 metagenome sequence reads could be assigned to relevant selected Pfam families (see Table  4).

Biotechnology for Biofuels

If we examine some of the other factors regarding offensive speech mentioned above, Feinberg suggests that the march through Skokie does not do very well: the social value of the speech seems to be marginal, the number of people offended will be large, and it is difficult to see how it is in the interests of the community.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "marginal number of", ensure the context clearly indicates that the quantity is not only small but also potentially insignificant to the overall situation. This phrase is best suited for analytical or academic writing where precision is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "marginal number of" when the actual impact is more significant than the word "marginal" implies. Using "small number of" or even specifying the exact number can provide clarity and prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginal number of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a noun (usually countable) with an emphasis on the limited and often insignificant amount. It serves to qualify the noun by indicating its scarcity. As Ludwig highlights, it suggests something barely makes a difference.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "marginal number of" denotes a small and often insignificant quantity, primarily utilized in scientific and news contexts. While grammatically acceptable, its use should be reserved for situations where minimizing the impact of the quantity is intended. Ludwig's analysis suggests the phrase is best employed in formal or analytical writing, and one should be wary of overstating the significance when using this phrase. Ludwig's AI considers the phrase valid, yet its less common usage warrants consideration of alternatives like "small number of" or "few number of" for clarity in broader contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

few number of

Replaces 'marginal' with 'few', suggesting a small quantity but maintains a similar structure.

small number of

Substitutes 'marginal' with 'small', providing a more common and direct way to express a limited quantity.

minimal number of

Replaces 'marginal' with 'minimal', emphasizing the extremely low quantity.

insignificant number of

Substitutes 'marginal' with 'insignificant', stressing that the quantity is not important or impactful.

modest number of

Replaces 'marginal' with 'modest', suggesting a limited and unexceptional quantity.

negligible number of

Substitutes 'marginal' with 'negligible', highlighting that the quantity is so small it can be disregarded.

slight number of

Replaces 'marginal' with 'slight', suggesting that the number is barely noticeable or small.

minuscule number of

Substitutes 'marginal' with 'minuscule', suggesting a very small number.

a trickle of

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate a very small and gradual amount.

scant few

Emphasizes both the small quantity and the inadequacy of the number.

FAQs

What does "marginal number of" mean?

The phrase "marginal number of" indicates a small and often insignificant quantity of something. It suggests that the number is so low that it barely makes a difference or has a limited impact in the given context.

How can I use "marginal number of" in a sentence?

You can use "marginal number of" to describe situations where the quantity is small and its effect is limited. For example: "Only a "few number of" patients experienced side effects from the new medication."

What are some alternatives to "marginal number of"?

Alternatives include "small number of", "minimal number of", or "insignificant number of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "small number of" and "marginal number of"?

While both phrases indicate a low quantity, "marginal number of" often implies that the quantity is not only small but also has little to no impact or significance. "Small number of" is a more general term for a low quantity without necessarily implying insignificance.