a substantial worry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial worry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant concern or issue that is causing anxiety or distress. Example: "The rising costs of living have become a substantial worry for many families struggling to make ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Still, he said, "there's a substantial worry that he won't do very much" beyond tax reform.

The New York Times

"The AI community does not think its a substantial worry," he said, "whereas the public does think it's much more of an issue".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Consider a diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder in people presenting with anxiety or substantial worry and in people who attend primary care frequently who have a chronic physical health problem or do not have a physical health problem but are seeking reassurance about somatic symptoms or are repeatedly worrying about a wide range of different issues.

British Medical Journal

Several participants said that their headaches had, at some point, caused them constant and often substantial worry.

BMC Family Practice

But substantial worries persist.

The New York Times

But there were substantial worries over the minerals that are gold dust for the new economy: antimony, used in flame-retardants and micro-electronics; the platinum group of metals, used in catalytic converters, fuel cells, phones and hard discs; and lithium, used in batteries.

BBC

Among the participants of our study, a substantial proportion were worried about EVD; however, among those worried, most did not report strong worries.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Even the maximum $4 fee would amount to just 1% of an average vendor's sales, but some farmers and market operators are opposed to a substantial increase and worry that the money would be wasted.

Los Angeles Times

"It's never felt like it's a substantial enough income to worry about paying taxes on it".

Vice

However, in the year following predictive testing, female non-carriers reported a substantial reduction in cancer worry, which is not maintained in the long term (Watson et al, 2004).

British Journal of Cancer

If entities called 'Data Safe Havens' were to turn out to have characteristics that worried a substantial number of individuals or society as a whole or if they were to fail to come up to the standards implied by their name, the very term could start to take on negative connotations.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a substantial worry", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific reason for the worry and its potential impact. This adds clarity and strengthens the communication.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial worry" for minor concerns. Reserve it for situations where the worry is genuinely significant in scope or impact, otherwise, consider alternatives like "a slight concern" or "a minor issue".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial worry" functions as a noun phrase, where "substantial" modifies the noun "worry". It typically serves to identify and emphasize a significant concern or source of anxiety. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial worry" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a significant concern. While relatively rare in overall usage, according to Ludwig, it appears in both news and scientific contexts, indicating its versatility. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes the cause and potential implications of the worry to maintain clarity and impact. While Ludwig confirms the phrase's correctness, it's crucial to reserve it for genuinely significant issues to avoid overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant concern

Replaces "worry" with "concern", softening the emotional intensity slightly.

a major apprehension

Substitutes "worry" with "apprehension", implying a more formal and considered concern.

a considerable anxiety

Replaces "worry" with "anxiety", focusing on the emotional distress caused by the concern.

a serious misgiving

Substitutes "worry" with "misgiving", highlighting a feeling of doubt or unease.

a grave reservation

Replaces "worry" with "reservation", suggesting a formal objection or hesitation.

a marked unease

Emphasizes the feeling of discomfort and anxiety related to the worry.

a palpable fear

Highlights the element of fear associated with the worry, making it more intense.

a noteworthy concern

Focuses on the importance and relevance of the concern.

a primary source of anxiety

Shifts the focus to identifying the root cause of the anxiety.

a pressing issue

Moves away from the emotional aspect and emphasizes the urgency of the problem.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial worry" to describe a significant concern. For example, "The potential economic downturn is "a substantial worry" for many investors".

What are some alternatives to "a substantial worry"?

Some alternatives include "a significant concern", "a major apprehension", or "a considerable anxiety", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a substantial worry"?

It is appropriate to use "a substantial worry" when the concern is genuinely significant and has potential negative consequences. Avoid using it for trivial matters.

Is "a substantial worry" a formal or informal expression?

"A substantial worry" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal settings, you might consider alternatives like "a serious misgiving" or "a grave reservation".