marginally earlier

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marginally earlier" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs slightly before another event or time. Example: "The meeting was scheduled for 10 AM, but it started marginally earlier at 9:55 AM."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As Alexander and Hilliard collected on a weekly basis at each site, advancement in phenology for a species in the current survey must exceed Alexander and Hilliard's seven day sampling window to be considered at least marginally earlier (or later) than that found in the original study.

Plosone

Considering the reconstructed ancestor of the three B. aphidicola strains that are clearly monophyletic affected only marginally earlier studies based on single genome [ 6].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

We also noted NECs in the earliest ICE injuries at 4 days, but their density in our human tissue samples peaked in lesions of 30 50 days old, with a marginally earlier increase in zone 2 than in zone 1. NECs were more often MCM2- or PAX6-positive than GFAP-positive glia studied but with a significant regression of their regenerative activity over time, particularly after 28 weeks.

European Journal of Neuroscience

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"We now believe that resilient consumer spending will keep the economy growing in the third quarter... Nevertheless, we still believe there is a very real risk that the economy will stagnate in the fourth quarter of 2016 and could even contract marginally early on in 2017".

The Guardian - Business

The GH group had significantly higher early pregnancy weight, body mass index, and body fat percentage, as well as a marginally higher early pregnancy BMD value (Table  2).

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Meanwhile, after coming within 140 points of its all time high, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has dipped marginally in early trading.

The Guardian - Business

Promoter methylation of RASSF1A was associated significantly with adenocarcinoma [the group of other tumor types vs. adenocarcinoma: odds ratio (OR) = 0.661, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.454 0.962, p = 0.031], and marginally with early tumor stage (the group of other stages vs. stage-I: OR = 0.673, 95% CI = 0.444 – 1.022, p = 0.063).

BMC Cancer

In comparison with previous years, the reported number of ART cycles in Europe increased in 2007; pregnancy rates increased marginally, but the earlier decline in the number of embryos transferred and multiple births did not continue.

Human Reproduction

This result corroborates the findings of a previous investigation showing that the DC only marginally affected the early bond strengths of resin-based primers to a polycrystalline zirconia ceramic [17].

Applied Adhesion Science

Equally, in terms of morphogenesis, especially in the efg1Δ mutant, the response to butanol and IAA is marginally less robust early after treatment (Fig. 6B).

Fungal Genetics and Biology

We found that the levels of MDM2 were only marginally changed at early time points but were significantly up-regulated at the later time points (30 and 60 days), congruent with the accumulation of p53 protein.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "marginally earlier" to indicate a slight advancement in time or occurrence, particularly when precision is not critical but the difference is noteworthy.

Common error

Avoid using "marginally earlier" when the difference is significant. Opt for more definitive terms like "considerably earlier" or "much earlier" if the time gap is substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginally earlier" functions as an adverbial modifier specifying the timing of an event or action. It indicates that something happened or will happen slightly before another point in time. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's a grammatically correct construct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "marginally earlier" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate something happens slightly before a reference point. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While its frequency is rare, it is appropriate in diverse settings like science and news, especially where a slight difference in time matters. When writing, be cautious not to overstate the temporal difference and consider synonyms like "slightly before" for clarity. Given its function, it helps enhance precision and clarity in descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally sooner

Synonymous, replacing "earlier" with "sooner".

slightly before

Focuses on the temporal aspect with a simpler term.

a bit sooner

More informal and emphasizes the time difference.

somewhat earlier

Emphasizes the degree of earliness.

barely earlier

Highlights the minimal difference in time.

just a little earlier

Informal and emphasizes the small difference.

fractionally earlier

Implies a very small, almost immeasurable difference.

slightly in advance

Focuses on being ahead in time.

just before

Simple and direct way to express a short time difference.

a shade earlier

Informal; "shade" emphasizes a tiny difference.

FAQs

What does "marginally earlier" mean?

The phrase "marginally earlier" means slightly or just a little earlier than a specific time or event. It indicates a small degree of difference in timing.

What can I say instead of "marginally earlier"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly before", "a bit sooner", or "somewhat earlier" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "marginally earlier" in formal writing?

Yes, "marginally earlier" is suitable for formal writing, especially in scientific or technical contexts where precise but small differences are being described. However, consider the specific audience and context to ensure it's the most effective choice.

How does "marginally earlier" compare to "slightly earlier"?

The phrases "marginally earlier" and "slightly earlier" are very similar in meaning. "Marginally" may imply an even smaller difference than "slightly", but they are often interchangeable.