Collocations for margin - noun
1. empty space at the side of a page in a book, etc.
ADJ.
generous, wide
Leave a generous margin on the left.
Leave a generous margin on the left.
narrow | left-hand, right-hand
VERB + MARGIN
leave, rule, set | adjust
PREP.
at the ~
Start writing at the left-hand margin.
Start writing at the left-hand margin.
in the ~
She scribbled notes in the margin.
She scribbled notes in the margin.
2. space, time, votes, etc. by which sth is won
ADJ.
comfortable, considerable, greater, huge, large, wide | narrow, slim, small | clear, safe
VERB + MARGIN
have
PREP.
by a ~
She won by a clear margin.
She won by a clear margin.
~ over
He had an 18-second margin over his nearest rival.
He had an 18-second margin over his nearest rival.
PHRASES
by the largest/narrowest, etc. of margins
He won by the narrowest of margins.
He won by the narrowest of margins.
a margin of victory
3. amount of extra space, time, etc.
ADJ.
good, greater, wide
Sales predictions are open to wide margins of error.
Sales predictions are open to wide margins of error.
narrow | adequate | safety
VERB + MARGIN
allow (sb/sth), give (sb/sth), leave, provide
The device gives a greater margin of safety.
The device gives a greater margin of safety.
PREP.
~ for
We have substantial reserves, which provide a good margin for uncertainties.
We have substantial reserves, which provide a good margin for uncertainties.
PHRASES
a margin for/of error
The schedule left no margin for error.
The schedule left no margin for error.
a margin of safety
4. profit
ADJ.
high, large | low, narrow, small, tight
We''re working to rather tight profit margins.
We''re working to rather tight profit margins.
gross, net | profit | operating, pre-tax, retail
VERB + MARGIN
achieve, have
These manufacturers have high gross margins.
These manufacturers have high gross margins.
operate at/on, work to | improve, increase
Higher productivity has enabled them to increase their profit margins.
Higher productivity has enabled them to increase their profit margins.
cut, erode, reduce, squeeze
Price rises have eroded profit margins.
Price rises have eroded profit margins.
MARGIN + VERB
widen | narrow
PREP.
at a ~
They are operating at very low margins.
They are operating at very low margins.
~ on
They hope to improve their margins on computers.
They hope to improve their margins on computers.