marginal performance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marginal performance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a level of performance that is just above the minimum required or expected, often implying that it is not satisfactory or impressive. Example: "The team's marginal performance in the last quarter has raised concerns about their ability to meet annual targets."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

It must be noted that in the higher PSI realm (>50%) wherein the PCM shows some marginal performance, sequence-based (1-D) methods are known to perform significantly well [24] and the utility of the 2-D PCM based approach is defeated owing to the higher computational cost involved.

Plosone

That meant marginal performance, no promotions and a rolling career of short stays in jobs with no accumulation of seniority.

The New York Times - Magazine

With retention a problem, some teachers said they were under pressure to pass students with marginal performance and attendance.

The New York Times

At Kelley last year, more than 73percentt of the fifth graders could not achieve even marginal performance on the state reading exam.

The New York Times

While pursuing his career, he befriended the poet Jean Genet, who had an avant-garde interest in "marginal" performance, and it was in part his friendship with Genet, rather than some Romani legacy, that led him back to the circus.

The New Yorker

Interestingly, it is shown that MU-MIMO only offers marginal performance gains with respect to single-user MIMO.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

In particular, the launcher has a limited steering range and a wide deposition width that results in sub-marginal performance for neoclassical tearing mode (NTM) stabilization.

Fusion Engineering and Design

What was once a pointedly outsider and marginal activity — performance art, the creation of time-based work that defied definition and continuing exhibition — has become the everyday stuff of major museums.

The New York Times - Arts

America's public school students are doing significantly better in math since the federal No Child Left Behind law took effect in 2002, but gains in reading achievement have been marginal, with performance declining among eighth graders, according to results of nationwide reading and math tests released Tuesday.

The New York Times

The focus on process economics aims at identifying design inferior options and discarding process configurations with marginal economic performance early in the development cycle.

Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification

The results of the Wilcoxon-U tests showed a marginal improved performance of training participants in divided attention (U = −1.84, p = .065), whereas the bipolar controls did not improve (U = −.86, p = .389).389

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "marginal performance", consider whether a more specific descriptor would provide greater clarity. For instance, instead of saying a product demonstrated "marginal performance", specify which aspect of the product's performance was marginal, like "marginal battery life" or "marginal processing speed".

Common error

Be careful not to use "marginal performance" when the performance is actually significantly poor. "Marginal" suggests just barely acceptable, not entirely failing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginal performance" functions as a descriptor, modifying a noun to indicate the quality or extent of that noun's performance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "marginal performance" is a common and grammatically correct descriptor used to indicate a level of performance that is just barely adequate. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely accepted in written English. Its primary function is to convey a sense of adequacy while often implying a need for improvement. The phrase is most frequently found in scientific and news media contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this term, consider if a more specific descriptor would provide greater clarity and avoid using it when the performance is significantly poor. Remember, "marginal" suggests just barely acceptable. Alternatives such as ""subpar performance"" or "limited effectiveness" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subpar performance

Indicates performance that is below the expected standard, implying a greater degree of deficiency than "marginal performance".

weak performance

Emphasizes the lack of strength or effectiveness in the performance, highlighting a deficiency in ability or execution.

poor showing

Refers to an unsatisfactory result or display, focusing on the outcome rather than the process.

limited effectiveness

Highlights the restricted capacity to produce a desired result, pointing out the constraints on achieving goals.

inadequate performance

Stresses the insufficiency of the performance to meet requirements, suggesting a failure to reach the necessary level.

deficient performance

Indicates a lack of necessary qualities or elements in the performance, emphasizing a specific shortcoming.

mediocre performance

Suggests an average or unremarkable performance, lacking distinction or excellence.

modest achievement

Emphasizes the limited extent of the accomplishment, indicating a small or moderate success.

token effort

Implies a minimal or perfunctory attempt, highlighting a lack of serious commitment or effort.

nominal success

Indicates a success that is so small or insignificant as to be almost negligible, suggesting a lack of substantial impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "marginal performance" to describe situations where something barely meets the minimum requirements or expectations. For example: "The team's success hinged on their ability to overcome the "subpar performance" of its key players".

What are some alternatives to "marginal performance"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as ""subpar performance"", "weak performance", or "limited effectiveness".

Is "marginal performance" a negative term?

Yes, "marginal performance" generally carries a negative connotation, as it implies that the performance is barely acceptable and could be improved.

What is the difference between "marginal performance" and "poor performance"?

"Marginal performance" suggests that something is just above the minimum acceptable level, while "poor performance" indicates that it is significantly below expectations. The first is an understatement of the second.