a concerning trend

USAGE SUMMARY

"a concerning trend" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a phenomenon or behavior that is worrisome or potentially dangerous. For example, "The rise in poverty levels is a concerning trend that needs to be addressed urgently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"It is a concerning trend that there have been 10 or 15 years of mild, wet winters," Mr. Baines said.

The New York Times

The committee said: "In our last report [last month], we drew attention to a concerning trend – a tendency by the Government to introduce vaguely worded legislation that leaves much to the discretion of ministers.

Independent

The fatigue aside, though, Teixeira's 2012 struggles echo a concerning trend the two previous years, in which Teixeira's batting average, on-base percentage, walks and runs scored have dropped precipitously.

The New York Times

Showrooming remains a concerning trend for the retail industry, as more users than ever shop on web and mobile.

TechCrunch

It's a concerning trend considering both the economic and environmental consequences of such waste.

Huffington Post

Dr. Roger Mittleman, the chief medical examiner for Port St .Lucie and the surrounding area, would later say that Overholt was part of a concerning trend.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"But what we have seen, which is really a new concerning trend, is the appearance of a propaganda war, in a sense".

Huffington Post

Those numbers may be outliers, as Politico's Alex Burns notes, but they are still evident of a very concerning trend for Romney.

Huffington Post

Future studies should investigate the reasons underlying this concerning trend.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Future work should investigate the clinical and molecular epidemiological associations underlying this concerning trend.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The report also outlines a few "concerning trends," like how the tech industry nationwide employed a larger share of white people, Asian Americans and men than the overall private industry, according to 2014 EEO-1 data.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a concerning trend", provide specific data or evidence to support the assertion. This adds credibility to your statement and clarifies the nature of the concern.

Common error

Avoid using "a concerning trend" as a vague statement. Always follow it with context and details to make your concern clear and impactful. For example, instead of just saying "There's a concerning trend in education", specify what aspect of education is concerning and why.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a concerning trend" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a specific development or pattern that is causing worry or unease. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

46%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a concerning trend" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a worrying development or pattern. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's commonly found in news and scientific articles, highlighting potential issues that warrant attention. While alternatives like "a worrying tendency" or "a disturbing pattern" exist, using "a concerning trend" effectively involves providing specific details to support your claim and avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a worrying tendency

Replaces 'concerning' with 'worrying' and 'trend' with 'tendency', slightly altering the emphasis.

a disturbing pattern

Substitutes 'concerning' with 'disturbing' and 'trend' with 'pattern', highlighting a negative trajectory.

a troubling development

Replaces 'concerning' with 'troubling' and 'trend' with 'development', emphasizing the problematic nature of an unfolding situation.

a worrisome sign

Replaces 'concerning trend' with 'worrisome sign', focusing on the indication of a problem.

a cause for alarm

Replaces the entire phrase with a more emphatic expression of concern.

an alarming increase

Focuses specifically on an upward movement that is considered dangerous or negative.

a negative development

Emphasizes the downturn aspect of what is developing.

an emerging problem

Highlights the new or relatively new status of the issue.

a growing threat

Focuses on the increasing potential for harm.

a worrying evolution

Replaces 'trend' with 'evolution', specifying a gradual change, and 'concerning' with 'worrying'.

FAQs

How can I use "a concerning trend" in a sentence?

You can use "a concerning trend" to describe a situation that is developing in a negative way. For instance, "The increasing rate of deforestation is "a concerning trend" for the environment."

What are some alternatives to saying "a concerning trend"?

Alternatives include "a worrying tendency", "a disturbing pattern", or "a troubling development", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "a concerning trend"?

It's appropriate when you genuinely observe a pattern or direction that raises legitimate concerns. Ensure you can support your observation with evidence or data to avoid making unsubstantiated claims.

What's the difference between "a concerning trend" and "a worrying trend"?

While both phrases are very similar, "a worrying trend" might imply a slightly more emotional or subjective reaction, while "a concerning trend" can sound more objective or data-driven. Both are generally interchangeable.