narrow margin for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "narrow margin for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is little room for error or a small difference in outcomes. Example: "The team won the game by a narrow margin for victory, highlighting their need to improve their performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The measure passed 223 to 197, a narrow margin for a bill that has an impact on so many states.

The New York Times

Unlike the Heat, who had the luxury of an 82-game schedule to make adjustments, the Eagles, with 16 regular-season games, have a narrow margin for error.

The New York Times - Sports

As far as there is a consensus concerning the implementation of the new deal, the question of who is in power matters only up to a certain and limited extent, as the new deal leaves a rather narrow margin for free political will.

Huffington Post

However, the narrow margin for technical error and the need to provide an airway within minutes have lead to the introduction of the approach through the cricothyroid membrane, the most superficial portion of the airway in the midsection of the anterior neck.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

They tend to get squeezed between those well-intentioned regulations and the merciless spreadsheets that calculate profitability and market demands, looking in narrow margins for ways to elevate homes above the basic.

The Guardian - Arts

The standard PD model faces a stringent trade-off that leaves narrow margins for the design of the control parameters: the proportional gain must be large enough for supplementing the insufficient ankle stiffness but not too large for avoiding delay-promoted instability.

Plosone

He was among seven Republicans whose votes for Johnson's acquittal provided a narrow margin of victory for the president.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even so, wouldn't a narrow margin of victory for either side leave the question unsettled?

The Guardian

But in March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data showing that 10percentt of American women 16 to 49 -- roughly seven million -- already have mercury levels that are "within one-tenth of potentially hazardous levels, indicating a narrow margin of safety" for damage to fetuses.

The New York Times - Food

Limitations on available water in combination with a high proportion of poor soil nutrient supply leaves a narrow margin of management alternatives for the future especially when considering the already overwhelming proportion of the most drought tolerant Scots pine.

Forest Ecosystems

Winning candidate Liz McInnes blamed Tory votes going to UKIP for the narrow margin of her win, in a seat previously seen as safe for Labour.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, quantify the margin when possible (e.g., "a narrow margin of 2%", "a narrow margin of error of 0.5 inches").

Common error

Avoid using "narrow margin for" when a wider or more significant difference exists. Ensure the situation genuinely reflects a close or limited gap.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrow margin for" functions as a qualifier, typically describing a situation where the possibility for deviation or error is minimal. According to Ludwig AI, it's a standard and acceptable phrase. Examples illustrate its use in contexts ranging from political elections to technical specifications, indicating a restricted space for success or failure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "narrow margin for" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to describe situations with minimal room for error or deviation. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Science, suggesting a neutral register suitable for varied contexts. For alternatives, consider "slim margin for", "thin margin for", or "limited margin for" to add nuance. Remember to clearly define what the margin pertains to and, when possible, quantify it for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slim margin for

Replaces "narrow" with "slim", suggesting a very small or thin margin.

thin margin for

Uses "thin" instead of "narrow", conveying the idea of a slight difference.

limited margin for

Substitutes "narrow" with "limited", emphasizing the restricted amount of allowance.

small margin for

Replaces "narrow" with "small", indicating a reduced or minimal margin.

tight margin for

Uses "tight" instead of "narrow", conveying a sense of constraint or restriction.

close margin for

Substitutes "narrow" with "close", highlighting the minimal difference between values or outcomes.

fine line for

Employs "fine line" to indicate a delicate boundary with little room for error.

slight margin for

Replaces "narrow" with "slight", implying a minor or insignificant margin.

restricted margin for

Highlights the limitations using "restricted" instead of "narrow".

exiguous margin for

Employs a more formal "exiguous" which means scanty, meager, or small.

FAQs

How can I use "narrow margin for" in a sentence?

You can use "narrow margin for" to describe situations where there is little room for error or success, such as "The election was won by a "narrow margin for" the incumbent".

What's a good alternative to "narrow margin for"?

Alternatives include "slim margin for", "thin margin for", or "limited margin for", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "a narrow margin of" instead of "narrow margin for"?

While "narrow margin of" is also correct, "narrow margin for" typically indicates what the margin pertains to (e.g., "narrow margin for error"). The choice depends on the specific context.

What does "narrow margin for error" mean?

"Narrow margin for error" means there's very little room for mistakes; even small errors could lead to failure or negative consequences.