a vague concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"a vague concern" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to an unclear or unspecified worry or issue. Example: "She expressed a vague concern about the project's timeline." Alternative expressions include "an unclear worry" and "a general apprehension."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

To counter the narrative that anyone asserting a vague concern of self-defense should have the right to carry a concealed weapon, I asked the legislators what is their vision?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

So it's a vaguely concerning that a senior White House official told The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg that, "We're America, bitch," is the official doctrine they're working off of.

Vice

The American system does not hold with the idea of incarcerating a large group of people who it seems to have no credible reason to believe are dangerous, out of vague concern that somewhere among them might be a future law-breaker.

The New York Times

Gov. George E. Pataki, who had expressed serious but vague concern in recent weeks about New York City's plan for a $1.3 billion water filtration plant in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, has finally put his objections in writing and asked that the state legislation authorizing the plant be amended.

The New York Times

After the bed-and-breakfast gathering, where he was struck by the composition of the mourners, Hardy sent an e-mail to Donna St. George, the Post reporter, expressing vague concern, on behalf of Rogers's family, about the tone of her forthcoming piece.

The New Yorker

But they also felt vague concern.

The New York Times

"Monique looked at him with vague concern".

The Guardian - Books

There is also Krzysztof Wodiczko's painfully tedious video eliciting some vague concern about the psychological problems of abused women.

The New York Times

The point at which I started to worry about AL Kennedy's health – seriously worry, as opposed to feeling vague concern when reading her On Writing columns for the Guardian and discovering that the sinusitis, labyrinthitis and H. pylori were still waxing – was when we met to talk about her latest novel, The Blue Book, about an ill-suited couple crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner.

The Guardian - Books

"But Anna, we can't not take risks in the name of scientific inquiry and medical advancement out of some vague concern over what if.

Huffington Post

They have provided both materiel and technical support for Riyadh's air war while denying direct involvement and expressing vague concern over the campaign's impact on civilians.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a vague concern", follow up with clarifying information or examples to provide context and make your meaning more precise. Don't leave your audience guessing about the specifics.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on phrases like "a vague concern" without providing further details. Overusing vague language can weaken your argument and leave your audience confused or dismissive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a vague concern" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "vague" modifies the noun "concern". It describes the nature of the concern as being unclear or not well-defined. Ludwig confirms the appropriate use of the phrase in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

13%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a vague concern" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express an undefined worry. Ludwig AI analysis indicates the phrase appears commonly in News & Media, Wiki, Science, and other general contexts. While the phrase is acceptable, it's best practice to provide additional information to clarify the nature of the concern. Alternative phrases such as "an unspecified apprehension" or "a general worry" can be used depending on the context. The Ludwig AI confirms the widespread and valid use of this phrase in various settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an ill-defined worry

Replaces 'vague' with 'ill-defined', emphasizing the lack of clear boundaries.

an unspecified apprehension

Substitutes 'vague' with 'unspecified' and 'concern' with 'apprehension', increasing formality.

a general worry

Simplifies the phrase by using 'general' instead of 'vague', making it less formal.

a nebulous fear

Replaces 'vague' with 'nebulous' and 'concern' with 'fear', adding a stronger emotional tone.

an indistinct anxiety

Uses 'indistinct' for 'vague' and 'anxiety' for 'concern', conveying a sense of unease.

a blurry reservation

Employs 'blurry' for 'vague' and 'reservation' for 'concern', suggesting a hesitant feeling.

an amorphous disquiet

Substitutes 'vague' with 'amorphous' and 'concern' with 'disquiet', indicating a formless unease.

a faint worry

Replaces vague with faint, implying the worry is not strong or pronounced.

a mild apprehension

Replaces vague with mild, indicating that the level of worry is low.

a subtle unease

Substitutes vague with subtle and concern with unease, shifting the focus to a slight feeling of discomfort.

FAQs

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

You can use "a vague concern" to express a general worry or unease about something. For example, "She expressed "a vague concern" about the project's timeline, but didn't specify what worried her".

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a general worry", "an unspecified apprehension", or "an ill-defined worry".

Is it better to be specific instead of expressing "a vague concern"?

While expressing ""a vague concern"" can be a starting point, it's generally better to be as specific as possible to ensure clear communication and prompt effective action.

What's the difference between "a vague concern" and "a specific concern"?

"A vague concern" refers to a worry that is not clearly defined or articulated, while "a specific concern" is a clearly defined and detailed worry.