What is meant by 'marginally' in this context?

Question

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The share of biomass falls *marginally*, as developing countries increasingly switch to using modern commercial energy, offsetting the growing ...

Answer 1

i need the complete sentence before i can give you an accurate answer, since i see you have two confusing answers already...

according to what you have given us, there are two possible answers to this one: one is that it falls "a little" according to the meaning of the word "marginally." it would have some meaning though i feel that the other meaning is more accurate (due to "developing countries increasingly switch to using modern commercial energy, offsetting the growing...").

second meaning is that the share prices fall "to the marginal value, which is the neutral line where it is neither positive nor negative." (in other words, the crucial point)

if you placed the whole sentence as an example, i'm sure we will be able to give you the correct answer :)

Answer 2

"Marginally" means "slightly", or "very little". Within this context it appears the author is stating that there is very little overall change in biomass; the "offsetting" implies developing countries are doing one thing whereas another group (presumably developed countries?) are doing something else to counter-act the effect

Answer 3

Biomass goes down a small amount because developing countries are using alternative means to create commercial energy.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

to a crucial point