a slight concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"a slight concern" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that there is a minor problem or issue, such as: "The employees expressed a slight concern about the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Ms. Shapiro called that "sort of a slight concern" and admitted to a few jitters.

The New York Times

George [Burgess] got a knock in the first five minutes and James Graham is a slight concern but I don't think they are major".

The Guardian - Sport

This is a "slight concern", he said, but the market is underpinned by the recent cuts in stamp duty and an array of attractive mortgage products.

The Guardian - Business

In that sense, there's a slight concern about a little weakness, but the right word is I guess a 'smidgen,' not a whole lot". At that last meeting of the year, the major concern expressed was about inflation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Van Teijlingen admitted that despite having a "slight concern" about the letter, its aim was to raise awareness of the public health threat posed by the virus rather than getting the Games moved or postponed.

The Guardian

Still, he said, he did have a slight concern about the number of signatures needed in California to force a recall election -- just 12percentt of the votes cast in the previous election.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

"The idea of the Bloomsbury Group gets a mixed response and my slight concern is that the drama will play into a perception that they were self-indulgent, bed-hopping poseurs, whereas in fact they were a group of people who between them changed the cultural face of Britain," she said.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

That bodes well for the United States' offense when the game slows down — an area of (very) slight concern given its fast-breaking inclination.

The New York Times

October/November has tended in recent seasons to be barren time for Liverpool - our current run of two games without a win is therefore of slight concern but pleasingly we're still creating stacks of chances and on most other days we would still have had a hat full with or without Torres against both Spurs and AthM.

BBC

My slight concern is him throwing a bit of a wobbly somewhere in the round.

BBC

96th over: England 357-8 (Flintoff 90, Harmison 5) A couple of no balls early on give Pollock reason for slight concern, but Flintoff's refusal of a simple single off the last ball suggests sobriety is England's priority now.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a slight concern", ensure the context clarifies what the concern pertains to. Specificity enhances clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight concern" when the issue is actually significant. Misrepresenting the magnitude of a problem can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight concern" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a mild form of worry or apprehension regarding something, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Reference

4%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a slight concern" effectively conveys a mild level of worry or apprehension. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it can be used in formal settings, writers should be mindful of the issue's actual significance to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives such as "a minor worry" or "a small reservation" offer subtle variations in meaning and formality. Remember to clearly specify what the concern relates to for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry", which is a more informal synonym; maintains the sense of something not overly serious.

a mild apprehension

Substitutes "concern" with "apprehension", suggesting a more formal and perhaps slightly stronger feeling of unease.

a small reservation

Replaces "concern" with "reservation", implying a held-back feeling of doubt or disagreement.

a touch of anxiety

Uses "anxiety" instead of "concern", indicating a slightly heightened emotional response; "touch of" softens the intensity.

a hint of unease

Replaces "concern" with "unease", which is a more general feeling of discomfort; "hint of" emphasizes the subtlety.

a passing worry

The word "passing" indicates the concern is temporary and not significant.

a small fear

Uses "fear" to express a more intense emotion than "concern", but the adjective "small" moderates it.

a trace of doubt

Substitutes "concern" with "doubt", focusing on uncertainty rather than worry; "trace of" diminishes the strength.

a degree of uncertainty

Expresses concern by focusing on the ambiguity and lack of clarity in a situation.

a soupçon of worry

Uses the French word "soupçon" to imply a very small and subtle amount of worry.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slight concern" to express a minor worry or issue, as in "There is "a slight concern" about the project's deadline".

What are some alternatives to "a slight concern"?

You can use alternatives like "a minor worry", "a mild apprehension", or "a small reservation" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a slight concern" in formal writing?

Yes, "a slight concern" is suitable for formal writing, as it conveys a professional and measured tone. However, consider stronger alternatives like "a significant concern" if the issue warrants greater emphasis.

What's the difference between "a slight concern" and "a major concern"?

"A slight concern" indicates a minor issue that doesn't require immediate or extensive action, while "a major concern" suggests a serious problem that needs immediate attention and resources.