a small concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small concern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to an issue, problem, or business that is small in scope. For example, "The mayor had a small concern about the proposed city budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Overtopping, however, presents only a "small concern," the corps said.

The New York Times - Science

His mother started a small concern writing and reading letters for illiterate neighbors.

The New Yorker

"If something were to happen to the pacemaker, that's a small concern," Hoiberg said.

The New York Times

The major obstacle is the cost, which is hardly a small concern with the state's financial outlook in question.

The New York Times

The indictment is unusual in part because NinjaVideo was a small concern by comparison to other video piracy sites.

The Guardian - Film

I'm aware, of course, that one drawback is the risk that a small concern may go bust, in which case the warranty will be of little use!

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Cost, at least in the United States, has also turned out to be a smaller concern than initially predicted.

The New Yorker

Joint ventures, for example, let a smaller concern run with a discrete idea, keeping it free of GE's internal pressures.

Harvard Business Review

"It makes sense for Lucent to raise money from the sale of a business that can probably be better managed by a smaller concern," said Thomas Lauria, an analyst with Avtera, an independent market research company in Guttenberg, N.J.

The New York Times

One noted that the group's nearest rival Spire — a smaller concern, treating 233,000 patients last year — had a budget of about £55m for capital expenditure, compared to £40m for BMI.

The Guardian - Business

We propose that rather than dismissing out of hand research efforts using online job advertisement and other types of web-based data due to weaknesses of data representativeness, a debate should be launched on how these weaknesses can be compensated for and for which types of research questions and fields they might be of a smaller concern.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a small concern" to downplay the significance of an issue, especially when contrasting it with larger, more pressing problems. This can help manage expectations and reassure stakeholders.

Common error

Avoid using "a small concern" when the issue has significant potential consequences. Overusing it can undermine credibility and create a perception of dismissiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small concern" functions as a noun phrase, where "small" modifies the noun "concern". It indicates the presence of a worry or issue that is not significant in size or impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small concern" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to downplay the significance of an issue. As verified by Ludwig AI, it effectively communicates that a particular worry or problem is of limited scope and should not cause significant alarm. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as scientific and formal business contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for various audiences. While useful for managing expectations and providing reassurance, it's important to avoid using it when the situation warrants more serious attention, as this could undermine credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor worry

Replaces "concern" with a more specific synonym, "worry", while maintaining the sense of something not very significant.

a slight problem

Substitutes "concern" with "problem", focusing on the issue aspect, and uses "slight" to denote its small size.

a minimal issue

Highlights the very small degree of the issue.

a trivial matter

Emphasizes the insignificance of the concern, suggesting it's not worth much attention.

a negligible issue

Highlights that the concern is so small it can be disregarded.

a minor inconvenience

Reframes the concern as something that causes a small amount of trouble or annoyance.

a petty detail

Focuses on the concern as a small and unimportant element within a larger context.

a light care

Uses "care" as a synonym for "concern" and "light" to express the low intensity of worry.

an insignificant detail

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the detail that is causing concern.

a faint apprehension

Replaces "concern" with a more emotional term, "apprehension", while "faint" indicates its low intensity.

FAQs

What does it mean to describe something as "a small concern"?

Saying something is "a small concern" indicates it's a relatively minor issue or problem that doesn't warrant significant worry or attention. It suggests the issue is not expected to cause major difficulties.

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

You might say, "Overtopping presents only "a small concern", according to the corps," to suggest that while overtopping is an issue, it's not the most pressing one.

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

You can use alternatives like "a minor worry", "a slight problem", or "a negligible issue" to express a similar sentiment.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "a small concern"?

It's best to avoid using "a small concern" if the issue at hand actually has significant implications or potential for serious consequences. Using it in such cases might downplay the true risk and mislead others.