a troubling level

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a troubling level" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a degree or extent of something that is concerning or worrisome. Example: "The report revealed a troubling level of pollution in the river, prompting immediate action from environmental agencies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

One is inequality, which is already at a troubling level.

The Economist

While rents accelerated, economists do not expect increases to be sufficient to build to a troubling level of inflation this year.

The New York Times

There has always been a troubling level of indifference to these activities, because these are al-Qaida terrorists responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans.

The Guardian - Opinion

At best, they reflect a troubling level of inconsistency and perhaps even dishonesty at ICE; at worst a stubborn and arrogant disdain for the president's publicly stated objective to reform the immigration system in way that is fair and humane.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

A troubling story out of southern Florida.

The New Yorker

But on a more complex, less visible and arguably more troubling level, HMU also represents how tangled municipal finances became in an era when borrowing money was easy and city leaders apparently found it easy to flout basic rules governing public budgeting.

Huffington Post

Gen. Kamala Harris nonetheless made an important point last week about how schools mismanage troubling levels of absenteeism.

Los Angeles Times

Flame-retardant chemicals have already been found at troubling levels in some orca groups.

The New York Times - Science

Experts said the tests indicated troubling levels of diesel pollution in Little Village, Lincoln Park, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park, Pilsen and other areas.

The New York Times

In 2001, new air monitoring by pesticide companies detected troubling levels of chloropicrin, prompting the department to evaluate whether its protections were adequate.

The Guardian

There is much talk of "citizens' insecurity," the common euphemism for Santiago's crime rate, which, according to Pinochetistas, has increased to troubling levels since the General stepped down.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a troubling level", ensure that the noun it modifies is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "a troubling level of debt" or "a troubling level of anxiety".

Common error

Avoid using "a troubling level" in overly casual conversation. While grammatically correct, it may sound overly formal or dramatic in informal settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "a bit worrying" or "quite concerning".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a troubling level" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase combined with a noun. It describes the degree or extent of something that is considered worrisome or problematic. Examples from Ludwig show it used to qualify nouns like 'inequality', 'inflation', and 'indifference'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a troubling level" is a phrase used to describe a concerning degree or extent of something. It is grammatically correct and appears in various reputable sources, as indicated by Ludwig. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, but also appears in scientific and formal business contexts. Its purpose is to highlight the severity of a situation and express concern. Alternatives such as "a worrying degree" or "a concerning extent" can be used depending on the desired nuance. According to Ludwig, its correct and can be used to describe the troubling extent of something negative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a worrying degree

Replaces 'troubling' with 'worrying', emphasizing concern.

a concerning extent

Substitutes 'troubling' with 'concerning' and 'level' with 'extent', both indicating worry.

an alarming rate

Replaces 'troubling' with 'alarming' and 'level' with 'rate', focusing on speed of increase.

a disturbing amount

Uses 'disturbing' instead of 'troubling' and 'amount' for 'level', suggesting unease.

a serious degree

Replaces 'troubling' with 'serious', emphasizing severity.

a significant magnitude

Substitutes 'troubling' with 'significant' and 'level' with 'magnitude', highlighting importance.

a problematic stage

Uses 'problematic' instead of 'troubling' and 'stage' for 'level', focusing on difficulty.

a regrettable state

Replaces 'troubling' with 'regrettable' and 'level' with 'state', indicating sorrow.

a grievous height

Substitutes 'troubling' with 'grievous' and 'level' with 'height', suggesting severity.

an upsetting quantity

Uses 'upsetting' instead of 'troubling' and 'quantity' for 'level', focusing on emotional impact.

FAQs

How can I use "a troubling level" in a sentence?

You can use "a troubling level" to describe the extent of something negative or concerning. For example, "The report revealed "a troubling level" of pollution in the river" or "There is "a troubling level" of absenteeism in schools".

What can I say instead of "a troubling level"?

Alternatives include "a worrying degree", "a concerning extent", or "an alarming rate", depending on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a troubling level" in formal writing?

Yes, "a troubling level" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing serious or concerning issues. It is often found in news reports, academic papers, and business documents.

What's the difference between "a troubling level" and "a troubling situation"?

"A troubling level" refers to the degree or extent of something concerning, while "a troubling situation" refers to a specific set of circumstances that are causing concern. They are not interchangeable, as one describes a quantity or degree and the other describes a scenario.