a mutual concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mutual concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an issue or topic that is of shared interest or worry to two or more parties. Example: "The rising cost of living has become a mutual concern for both the government and the citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

CUTTING EDGE ENSEMBLE: "A TAPESTRY OF SOUND" The disciplines of weaving and music composition are linked by a mutual concern for rhythm, texture, and color.

The New Yorker

They cooperate with the U.S. — and with Israel — against terrorists because they fear terrorists, a mutual concern that has only become more acute with the alarming rise of extremist attacks in Sinai.

The New York Times

Not least among the shared interests is a "mutual concern about the unilateralism" of current American policy, said Muhammad Noordin Sopiee, chairman of Malaysia's Institute of Strategic and International Studies.

The New York Times

Most people I come across in the US who are Turkish or have an interest in Turkey share a mutual concern about the recent situation in the country, even though their political views are not identical.

Huffington Post

The topic of collaboration was mainly brought into FGD 2 to try to meet a mutual concern, and the discussion resulted in change of the third FGD's interview guide: FGD 1: assessment and medication/hospitalisation/self-treatment/use of guidelines/challenging or difficult situations/most important problem/improvement of clinical practice.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Despite warm rhetoric, and a shared mutual concern about being hemmed in by US power, China contrasts its own perceived march to superpower status with what it sees as Russian stagnation and economic decline.

Independent

As examples, he redundantly mentions economic support and IMF assistance, then he says ensuring tourism is an important (mutual?) concern.

The Guardian

Yet despite all that, despite economic dysfunction and narrow corporate interests, this young man was aggrieved because he had assumed something else: an almost familial relationship with his employer, a bond of mutual concern.

The New York Times

On Wednesday evening, the Justice Department issued a statement confirming the exchange of letters "regarding an issue of mutual concern".

The New York Times

They appeared together on academic panels, including one organized by Michelle Obama to discuss the juvenile justice system, an area of mutual concern.

The New York Times

Substantive cooperation with Iran in an area of mutual concern like counternarcotics could improve the atmospherics of United States-Iranian relations and also advance the dialogue on contentious issues of nuclearization, international terrorism and the future of Iraq that now keep the countries almost at swords' points.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a mutual concern" to highlight a shared issue or worry between two or more parties, particularly when emphasizing collaboration or agreement is important. For instance, stating "cybersecurity is a mutual concern for businesses and governments" emphasizes the need for both to cooperate.

Common error

While "a mutual concern" is suitable for formal contexts, avoid overusing it in casual conversations. Phrases like "something we both care about" or "a shared worry" might be more appropriate in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

"A mutual concern" functions as a noun phrase, identifying a specific issue or area of shared worry or interest. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing. It's used to highlight agreement or shared responsibility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mutual concern" is a grammatically sound and useful phrase for indicating shared worries or interests between parties. While it is more common in formal and professional contexts such as news, business and science, it can be adapted for broader use. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and effective for conveying a sense of shared responsibility. Remember to consider the formality of your writing and consider alternatives like "a shared concern" in more casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shared concern

Replaces "mutual" with "shared", emphasizing the commonality of the concern.

a common concern

Uses "common" instead of "mutual", highlighting the widespread nature of the concern.

a joint concern

Substitutes "mutual" with "joint", suggesting a collaborative aspect to addressing the concern.

an issue of common interest

Rephrases the concern as an "issue of common interest", broadening the scope slightly.

a matter of shared interest

Similar to "issue of common interest", this emphasizes the shared nature of the interest or concern.

a reciprocal concern

Highlights the mutual or corresponding nature of the worry.

an area of shared concern

Frames the concern as existing within a specific area or domain.

a point of convergence

Moves beyond a simple concern to suggest an overlapping area of focus.

a collective worry

Highlights that a group is experiencing a shared worry.

a unifying issue

Focuses on the concern's ability to bring people together.

FAQs

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

You can use "a mutual concern" to indicate a shared worry or interest. For example: "Ensuring data privacy is "a mutual concern" for both companies and their customers."

What is a synonym for "a mutual concern"?

A synonym for "a mutual concern" is "a shared concern", which also indicates a common worry or interest.

Is it better to say "mutual concern" or "shared concern"?

Both "mutual concern" and "shared concern" are correct and often interchangeable. "Mutual" emphasizes reciprocity, while "shared" highlights commonality.

What does it mean when something is described as "a mutual concern"?

When something is described as "a mutual concern", it signifies that two or more parties have a common worry, interest, or responsibility regarding a particular issue.