a needless worry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a needless worry" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a concern or anxiety that is unnecessary or unfounded. Example: "She realized that her fear of failing the exam was just a needless worry, as she had prepared thoroughly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I think this is a needless worry.

The Guardian

Even the threat of insufficient snow proved a needless worry as a heavy snow fell on the first day.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Our concern that the predicted five-year life span of The Project would find us homeless if Harley pursued graduate work turned out to be a needless worry!

Princeton University

This was a needless worry because Bez, it seems, is incapable of existing in silence.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

If Penn Coach Al Bagnoli worried about distractions, it was a needless concern.

The New York Times - Sports

This information should save the patient needless worry and a considerable expenditure for unnecessary treatment.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

According to Louise Hay, toe injuries were physical manifestations of a needless emotional worry about future details.

Huffington Post

These "false-positives" can lead to needless worry and further testing, often including an invasive angiogram.

Harvard University

Needless worry on this has been provoked by a book, written by Mr David Rorvik and published by Lippincott, that purports to describe how a self-made millionaire actually had a clone of himself produced.

The Economist

Those DCU films will get made, make no mistake, but perhaps not quite as fast as fans tend to want, and that often leads to disappointment and needless worry that "something is wrong" when it's simply a matter of the way production schedules work out.

Forbes

Statistics may seem dry to some people, but they can help separate justified concern from needless worry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider if a more specific term might better capture the nuance of the situation. For example, "an unfounded financial concern" may be more precise than "a needless worry".

Common error

Avoid using "a needless worry" when the concern actually has a valid basis, even if the potential outcome is unlikely. It's important to accurately assess the situation before dismissing a concern as needless.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a needless worry" functions as a noun phrase, where "needless" is an adjective modifying the noun "worry". It serves to characterize the worry as unnecessary or unfounded. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is valid and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a needless worry" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an unfounded or unnecessary concern. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. While not overly common, it appears across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. Alternatives such as "an unnecessary concern" or "an unfounded fear" can provide subtle shifts in emphasis. When using the phrase, ensure the concern truly lacks a valid basis to avoid misapplication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unnecessary concern

Emphasizes the lack of necessity of the worry.

an unfounded fear

Focuses on the lack of basis for the fear.

a groundless worry

Similar to unfounded, emphasizing the lack of factual basis.

a baseless anxiety

Highlights the absence of a foundation for the anxiety.

an unwarranted concern

Stresses that the concern is not justified.

an idle fear

Suggests the fear is trivial and without purpose.

a pointless apprehension

Highlights the lack of purpose in the apprehension.

a vain anxiety

Implies the anxiety is ultimately fruitless or ineffective.

an excessive preoccupation

Focuses on the exaggerated nature of the concern.

an overblown fear

Suggests the fear is exaggerated and out of proportion.

FAQs

How can I use "a needless worry" in a sentence?

You can use "a needless worry" to describe a fear or concern that is unnecessary or without basis. For example, "Her anxiety about the presentation turned out to be "a needless worry", as it went smoothly".

What are some alternatives to saying "a needless worry"?

Alternatives include "an unnecessary concern", "an unfounded fear", or "a baseless anxiety". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a needless worry"?

It's appropriate when you want to reassure someone that their fears are not justified or when you're reflecting on a past concern that proved to be unfounded.

Is "a needless worry" the same as "an unnecessary worry"?

While similar, "a needless worry" implies the worry was not only unnecessary but also easily avoidable or without any real justification, whereas "an unnecessary worry" simply means it wasn't required.