a bigger concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"a bigger concern" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate something that is a greater or more important issue or matter of worry. Example: "The rising pollution levels in our city are a bigger concern than ever before. It is essential that we take immediate action to address this problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But some had a bigger concern.

The New York Times

Pretty said curiosity was a bigger concern.

The New York Times - Sports

A bigger concern involved tripping.

The New Yorker

A bigger concern for retailers is regulation.

The Guardian - Business

"Paranoia, frankly, is a bigger concern.

The New York Times

A bigger concern is the weather.

The New York Times

A bigger concern is what she does with power.

The Economist

But a bigger concern is Crossrail 2, the mooted sequel.

The Guardian

A bigger concern is with the hardware itself.

MIT Technology Review

A bigger concern is how they will get on after a generally acrimonious campaign.

The Economist

But a bigger concern may be that it's difficult to set an appropriate range.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a bigger concern", ensure you've clearly established the initial concern you are comparing it to, providing a clear context for understanding the increased significance.

Common error

Avoid using "a bigger concern" without first introducing the initial, smaller concern. The comparison loses its impact and can confuse the reader if the baseline concern isn't clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bigger concern" functions as a noun phrase that typically introduces a more significant problem, issue, or worry in comparison to something already mentioned or implied. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a bigger concern" is a common phrase used to introduce a more significant problem or issue, as confirmed by Ludwig. It typically functions as a noun phrase and is used to highlight priorities or escalate perceived risk. Its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for various formal and informal contexts, although it appears most frequently in news and media sources. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a more significant issue

Focuses on the importance of the matter.

a greater worry

Emphasizes the anxiety associated with the issue.

a more pressing matter

Highlights the urgency of dealing with the concern.

a larger problem

Indicates the scale and impact of the concern.

a foremost apprehension

Puts the concern at the top of the list of worries.

a key issue

Highlights the importance of matter.

a primary consideration

Emphasizes the need to think carefully about the matter.

a central difficulty

Highlights the importance of the problem.

a major source of anxiety

Underlines the feeling of worry and stress the concern causes.

the main disadvantage

Highlights the most relevant unfavorable aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "a bigger concern" in a sentence?

You can use "a bigger concern" to introduce a more significant issue after mentioning a less important one. For instance, "While the budget is tight, "a bigger concern" is the lack of resources for training."

What's the difference between "a bigger concern" and "a greater concern"?

The phrases "a bigger concern" and "a greater concern" are largely interchangeable. Both indicate a more significant issue, with "bigger" implying size or scope and "greater" implying degree or intensity.

What can I say instead of "a bigger concern"?

You can use alternatives like "a more significant issue", "a more pressing matter", or "a greater worry" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state the initial concern when using "a bigger concern"?

While not always strictly necessary, it's best practice to provide some context for the initial concern, even implicitly. This ensures clarity and helps the reader understand why the ""a bigger concern"" is being presented as more significant.