Margin vs. Edge — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 24, 2024
Margin refers to the space surrounding the main content on a page or block, enhancing readability, while edge is the outermost limit or boundary of an object or area.
Difference Between Margin and Edge
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Margin is typically used to describe the space around text or images within a document, designed to prevent content from appearing cluttered, while edge often refers to the actual outer boundary or perimeter of an object or surface.
In typography and publishing, margins are critical for ensuring that text is visually appealing and legible, whereas the edge of a book or a device plays a more structural role, defining the limits of the physical object.
Margins are also crucial in user interface design, providing necessary space around elements to make interactions more comfortable, whereas edges can define the touch targets and boundary of the user interface.
In the context of a page layout, adjusting margins can alter the feel and readability of the text, while modifying the edges of a material, like cutting or shaping, changes its physical dimensions and appearance.
Financially, margin can also mean the amount by which revenue from sales exceeds costs in a business, highlighting a different kind of boundary or limit, whereas edge does not generally have a specialized financial meaning.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Space around elements in a layout.
Outermost boundary of an object.
Usage in Design
Enhances readability and aesthetics.
Defines physical boundaries.
In Publishing
Refers to blank spaces around text.
Refers to the perimeters of the page.
Metaphorical Use
Used to describe financial surplus.
Rarely used metaphorically.
Physical Interaction
Not typically interacted with directly.
Often interacted with, especially in products.
Compare with Definitions
Margin
Financially, the difference between cost and revenue.
They achieved a margin of 20% last quarter.
Edge
A sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces.
Watch out for the edge of the table.
Margin
The space around the content of a page.
The designer increased the margins to make the document easier to read.
Edge
A point at which something is likely to begin.
They were on the edge of making a breakthrough.
Margin
A space deliberately left blank for notations.
She made notes in the margins of her textbook.
Edge
A slight advantage.
His experience gave him an edge in the competition.
Margin
The minimum amount necessary to achieve something.
He won the race by a margin of just two seconds.
Edge
The brink or verge of something.
He was on the edge of tears.
Margin
The edge or border of anything when not explicitly the extreme edge.
The margin of the lake was teeming with wildlife.
Edge
The outside limit of an object, area, or surface
She perched on the edge of a desk
A willow tree at the water's edge
Margin
The edge or border of something
The eastern margin of the Indian Ocean
Edge
The sharpened side of the blade of a cutting implement or weapon
A knife with a razor-sharp edge
Margin
An amount by which something is won
They won by a convincing 17-point margin
Edge
A quality or factor which gives superiority over close rivals
His cars have the edge over his rivals'
Margin
Provide with an edge or border
The plant's leaves are margined with yellow
Edge
Provide with a border or edge
The pool is edged with paving
Margin
Deposit an amount of money with a broker as security for (an account or transaction)
New contracts are margined with the winnings of previously held contracts
Edge
Move or cause to move gradually or furtively in a particular direction
Hazel quietly edged him away from the others
She tried to edge away from him
Margin
An edge and the area immediately adjacent to it; a border.
Edge
Give an intense or sharp quality to
The bitterness that edged her voice
Margin
The blank space bordering the written or printed area on a page.
Edge
Strike (the ball) with the edge of the bat; strike a ball delivered by (the bowler) with the edge of the bat
Haynes edged to slip
He edged a ball into his pad
Margin
A limit in a condition or process, beyond or below which something is no longer possible or acceptable
The margin of reality.
Has crossed the margin of civilized behavior.
Edge
Ski with one's weight on the edges of one's skis
You will be edging early, controlling a parallel turn
Margin
An amount allowed beyond what is needed
A small margin of safety.
Edge
A thin, sharpened side, as of the blade of a cutting instrument.
Margin
A measure, quantity, or degree of difference
A margin of 500 votes.
Edge
The degree of sharpness of a cutting blade.
Margin
The minimum return that an enterprise may earn and still pay for itself.
Edge
A penetrating, incisive quality
"His simplicity sets off the satire, and gives it a finer edge" (William Hazlitt).
Margin
The difference between the cost and the selling price of securities or commodities.
Edge
A slight but noticeable sharpness, harshness, or discomforting quality
His voice had an edge to it.
Margin
The difference between the market value of collateral and the face value of a loan.
Edge
Keenness, as of desire or enjoyment; zest
The brisk walk gave an edge to my appetite.
Margin
An amount in money, or represented by securities, deposited by a customer with a broker as a provision against loss on transactions made on account.
Edge
The line or area farthest away from the middle
Lifted the carpet's edge.
Margin
(Botany) The border of a leaf.
Edge
The line of intersection of two surfaces
The edge of a brick.
Margin
To provide with a margin.
Edge
A rim or brink
The edge of a cliff.
Margin
To be a margin to; border.
Edge
The point at which something is likely to begin
On the edge of war.
Margin
To inscribe or enter in the margin of a page.
Edge
A margin of superiority; an advantage
A slight edge over the opposition.
Margin
To add margin to
Margin up a brokerage account.
Edge
To give an edge to (a blade); sharpen.
Margin
To deposit margin for
Margin a transaction.
Edge
To tilt (a ski or both skis) in such a way that an edge or both edges bite into the snow.
Margin
To buy or hold (securities) by depositing or adding to a margin.
Edge
To put a border or edge on
Edged the quilt with embroidery.
Margin
(typography) The edge of the paper, typically left blank when printing but sometimes used for annotations etc.
Edge
To act as or be an edge of
Bushes that edged the garden path.
Margin
The edge or border of any flat surface.
Edge
To advance or push slightly or gradually
The dog edged the ball with its nose.
Margin
(figuratively) The edge defining inclusion in or exclusion from a set or group.
Edge
To trim or shape the edge of
Edge a lawn.
Margin
A difference or ratio between results, characteristics, scores.
Margin of victory
Edge
To surpass or beat by a small margin. Often used with out
The runner edged her opponent out at the last moment.
Margin
A permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits.
Margin of error
Edge
To move gradually or hesitantly
The child edged toward the door.
Margin
(finance) The yield or profit; the selling price minus the cost of production.
Edge
The boundary line of a surface.
Margin
(finance) Collateral security deposited with a broker, to compensate the broker in the event of loss in the speculative buying and selling of stocks, commodities, etc.
Edge
(geometry) A one-dimensional face of a polytope. In particular, the joining line between two vertices of a polygon; the place where two faces of a polyhedron meet.
Margin
That which is ancillary; periphery.
This model merely nips at the margins.
Edge
An advantage.
I have the edge on him.
Margin
(transitive) To add a margin to.
Edge
The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument, such as an ax, knife, sword, or scythe; that which cuts as an edge does, or wounds deeply, etc.
Margin
(transitive) To enter (notes etc.) into the margin.
Edge
A sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; an extreme verge.
The cup is right on the edge of the table.
He is standing on the edge of a precipice.
Margin
To trade (securities etc.) on margin (collateral).
Edge
Sharpness; readiness or fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of desire.
Margin
A border; edge; brink; verge; as, the margin of a river or lake.
Edge
The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning or early part (of a period of time)
In the edge of evening
Margin
Specifically: The part of a page at the edge left uncovered in writing or printing.
Edge
(cricket) A shot where the ball comes off the edge of the bat, often unintentionally.
Margin
The difference between the cost and the selling price of an article.
Edge
(graph theory) A connected pair of vertices in a graph.
Margin
Something allowed, or reserved, for that which can not be foreseen or known with certainty.
Edge
The point of data production in an organization (the focus of edge computing), as opposed to the cloud.
Margin
Collateral security deposited with a broker to secure him from loss on contracts entered into by him on behalf of his principial, as in the speculative buying and selling of stocks, wheat, etc. It is usually less than the full value of the security purchased, in which case it may be qualified by the portion of the full value required to be deposited; as, to buy stocks on 50% margin.
Edge
(transitive) To move an object slowly and carefully in a particular direction.
He edged the book across the table.
The muggers edged her into an alley and demanded money.
Margin
To furnish with a margin.
Edge
(intransitive) To move slowly and carefully in a particular direction.
He edged away from her.
Margin
To enter in the margin of a page.
Edge
(usually in the form 'just edge') To win by a small margin.
Margin
The boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
Edge
To hit the ball with an edge of the bat, causing a fine deflection.
Margin
A permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits
Edge
(transitive) To trim the margin of a lawn where the grass meets the sidewalk, usually with an electric or gas-powered lawn edger.
Margin
The amount of collateral a customer deposits with a broker when borrowing from the broker to buy securities
Edge
(transitive) To furnish with an edge; to construct an edging.
Margin
(finance) the net sales minus the cost of goods and services sold
Edge
To furnish with an edge, as a tool or weapon; to sharpen.
Margin
The blank space that surrounds the text on a page
Edge
(figurative) To make sharp or keen; to incite; to exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on.
Margin
A strip near the boundary of an object;
He jotted a note on the margin of the page
Edge
To delay one's orgasm so as to remain almost at the point of orgasm.
Edge
The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe.
He which hath the sharp sword with two edges.
Slander,Whose edge is sharper than the sword.
Edge
Any sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; extreme verge; as, the edge of a table, a precipice.
Upon the edge of yonder coppice.
In worst extremes, and on the perilous edgeOf battle.
Pursue even to the very edge of destruction.
Edge
Sharpness; readiness or fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of desire.
The full edge of our indignation.
Death and persecution lose all the ill that they can have, if we do not set an edge upon them by our fears and by our vices.
Edge
The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning or early part; as, in the edge of evening.
Edge
To furnish with an edge as a tool or weapon; to sharpen.
To edge her champion's sword.
Edge
To shape or dress the edge of, as with a tool.
Edge
To furnish with a fringe or border; as, to edge a dress; to edge a garden with box.
Hills whose tops were edged with groves.
Edge
To make sharp or keen, figuratively; to incite; to exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on.
By such reasonings, the simple were blinded, and the malicious edged.
Edge
To move by little and little or cautiously, as by pressing forward edgewise; as, edging their chairs forwards.
Edge
To move sideways; to move gradually; as, edge along this way.
Edge
To sail close to the wind.
I must edge up on a point of wind.
Edge
The boundary of a surface
Edge
A sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces of an object;
He rounded the edges of the box
Edge
A line determining the limits of an area
Edge
The attribute of urgency;
His voice had an edge to it
Edge
A slight competitive advantage;
He had an edge on the competition
Edge
A strip near the boundary of an object;
He jotted a note on the margin of the page
Edge
Advance slowly, as if by inches;
He edged towards the car
Edge
Provide with a border or edge;
Edge the tablecloth with embroidery
Edge
Lie adjacent to another or share a boundary;
Canada adjoins the U.S.
England marches with Scotland
Common Curiosities
How is the edge related to safety in product design?
Products are often designed with smoothed or rounded edges to enhance safety.
What is the primary purpose of a margin in document design?
To provide space around content for aesthetic and readability purposes.
Can the edge of a product affect its usability?
Yes, the physical edges can impact how easily a product can be held or used.
Why are margins important in books?
They provide space for holding without covering text and enhance overall readability.
What does having an edge mean in competitive situations?
It refers to having a slight advantage that can contribute to superior performance.
What is the difference between margin and edge in terms of interaction?
Margins are usually not directly interacted with, whereas edges can be significant in physical interaction.
How can edges affect the aesthetic appeal of a product?
Well-designed edges can contribute to the sleekness and modern look of a product.
How do margins affect readability?
Adequate margins help reduce eye strain and make text more approachable.
How do margins and edges differ in metaphorical use?
Margins often represent broader conceptual spaces or limits, while edges are less commonly used metaphorically.
In what way are margins used in financial contexts?
They represent the amount by which revenues exceed costs.
Is it better to have wider or narrower margins in professional documents?
Wider margins generally make documents easier to read and appear more professional.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
