a minor concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minor concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not a significant issue or problem. Example: "While there are several challenges to address, the budget overrun is just a minor concern compared to the project's overall success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That is not a minor concern.

The New York Times

For the video rental industry, this is a minor concern.

Harvard Business Review

But money is a minor concern, he said.

The New York Times

For other players, dealing with glare is a minor concern.

The New York Times - Sports

Similarly, coastal erosion has historically been, and remains, only a minor concern in Northern Ireland.

Ocean & Coastal Management

Either way, in our experience thus far, this is a minor concern.

The Guardian - Tech

Lieutenant Amos testified that these comments were only a minor concern.

The New York Times

In each case, policymakers denied their currency was even a minor concern.

The Guardian - Business

For the first half of the 20th century, the loss of their language was a minor concern for Virginia Indians.

The Washington Post

The implication is that Aaliyah was on the cusp of becoming a cosy all-round family entertainer for whom music was merely a minor concern.

The Guardian

He criticized Obama for driving a "gas-guzzler" in front of a room full of people for whom guzzling gas is a minor concern.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a minor concern", ensure the context clearly establishes that the concern genuinely has limited impact. Avoid downplaying significant issues with this phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "a minor concern" to dismiss legitimate worries or problems raised by others. Ensure that the issue truly is of small consequence before using this phrase, otherwise, you may risk alienating your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minor concern" functions as a noun phrase that identifies something that causes worry or attention, but is not of high importance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minor concern" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to downplay the significance of an issue. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage, and examples show its prevalence in both news and scientific contexts. It is crucial to use this phrase judiciously to avoid dismissing valid issues. Related phrases like "a slight worry" or "a small issue" can provide alternative ways to express varying degrees of importance. While widely applicable, "a minor concern" should be used with consideration to ensure you are not minimizing genuine problems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight worry

Highlights the worry aspect with an emphasis on the lower degree.

a small issue

Focuses on the issue being small and not significantly impactful.

a trivial matter

Indicates the concern is unimportant and easily dismissed.

not a major problem

Emphasizes the absence of a large-scale problem.

a negligible issue

Highlights that the issue can be neglected, being small.

a secondary consideration

Indicates the concern is not of primary importance.

an insignificant detail

Highlights the lack of significance of the "concern".

of little consequence

Emphasizes the unimportance of the outcome or result.

hardly a problem

Implies the concern is so minimal it barely qualifies as a problem.

a passing thought

Focuses on the "concern" being fleeting and insubstantial.

FAQs

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

You can use "a minor concern" to downplay something that may cause worry or problems, but that isn't a major issue. For instance, "The budget is tight, but the potential cost overrun is "a minor concern" compared to the project's long-term benefits".

What's a good alternative to "a minor concern"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a slight worry", "a small issue", or "a trivial matter" to convey that something is not a significant problem.

When is it appropriate to use "a minor concern"?

Use "a minor concern" when you want to acknowledge a potential problem but emphasize that it is not critical or does not warrant significant attention compared to other factors. Ensure you're not dismissing legitimate concerns with this phrase.

Is "a minor concern" the same as "not a concern"?

No, "a minor concern" implies there is still some level of worry or issue, whereas "not a concern" suggests there is no worry or issue at all. They are not interchangeable.