a little concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a little concern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone has a small amount of worry or unease about a situation. For example, "He expressed a little concern about the weather forecast for tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

It's not a little concern.

The New York Times

"There's always a little concern," Howe said.

The New York Times - Sports

In these times, such words from any banker might be enough to cause a little concern.

The Economist

Nobody here looked drawn as some had 12 hours earlier, but frustration remained — and perhaps a little concern.

The New York Times - Magazine

Though he was reluctant to admit it, he clearly had more than a little concern about his family's financial future.

The New York Times - Health

"There's a little concern, because with the absence of Fergie, there is one less body there that can play.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

"We were a little concerned.

The New York Times - Sports

Ella was a little concerned.

The New York Times - Tech

My parents were a little concerned.

The New York Times - Magazine

"There were some moments when I was a little concerned.

The New York Times

But I'm a little concerned by the title.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a little concern", ensure the context aligns with a situation where only a mild level of worry or apprehension is intended. Overstating the concern can mislead the reader.

Common error

Avoid replacing "a little concern" with stronger terms like "significant worry" or "major anxiety" when the situation warrants only mild unease. Using exaggerated language can distort the true sentiment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a little concern" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the object of a verb or preposition, expressing a mild degree of worry or apprehension. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a little concern" is a commonly used and grammatically correct noun phrase that expresses a mild degree of worry or apprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English across various contexts. Primarily found in News & Media, it maintains a neutral register and can be effectively used to convey slight unease without exaggerating the sentiment. Alternatives such as ""slight apprehension"" or ""mild worry"" can be used to diversify language while retaining the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some unease

Uses "unease" instead of "concern" and "some" instead of "a little", offering a more concise alternative.

mild worry

Substitutes "concern" with "worry" and "little" with "mild", providing a more direct and common synonym.

a touch of worry

Employs "a touch of" instead of "a little", providing a more figurative expression.

slight apprehension

Replaces "concern" with "apprehension" and "little" with "slight", altering the specific emotion conveyed but maintaining the low intensity.

faint worry

Substitutes "little" with "faint", emphasizing the subtlety of the concern.

a degree of concern

Replaces "little" with "degree of", offering a more formal tone.

minor anxiety

Replaces "concern" with "anxiety" and "little" with "minor", indicating a slightly stronger feeling of unease.

a hint of anxiety

Replaces "concern" with "anxiety" and "little" with "hint of", suggesting a very subtle feeling of unease.

a spot of bother

Uses a more British idiom, replacing "concern" with "bother" and "little" with "spot of", creating a more informal tone.

moderate concern

Modifies the intensity of the concern, indicating a slightly higher level of worry than "a little concern".

FAQs

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

You can use "a little concern" to express a mild degree of worry or apprehension about something. For example, "She expressed "a little concern" about the project's deadline".

What are some alternatives to saying "a little concern"?

Alternatives include "slight apprehension", "mild worry", or "some unease". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a little concerned" instead of "a little concern"?

Yes, "a little concerned" is also correct, but it functions as an adjective describing a person's state, whereas "a little concern" is a noun phrase referring to the feeling itself. For instance, "I am a little concerned" versus "I have a little concern".

What's the difference between "a little concern" and "a lot of concern"?

"A little concern" indicates a small amount of worry, while "a lot of concern" signifies a significant amount of worry or anxiety. The phrases differ vastly in the level of apprehension they express.