a valid concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"a valid concern" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to mention a concern that is legitimate and reasonable. For example, "I understand that you have a valid concern about the potential consequences of our decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is a valid concern.

The New York Times

Considering their history, it's a valid concern.

The New York Times

With regard to extremists, that is a valid concern.

The Guardian

But my grandfather thought this was a valid concern.

The New Yorker

The loss of a homeland just doesn't compute as a valid concern.

The New York Times

"People have a valid concern, but they're measuring radiation using the wrong devices," he said.

The New York Times

A valid concern on a day when the temperature was past 90 degrees.

The New York Times - Style

Though a valid concern, this does not detract from very significant concerns about transparency in aggregate.

The Guardian - Tech

Lots of parents are concerned about screen time triggering headache, and it's a valid concern.

Harvard University

Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, said Mr. Coburn had raised a valid concern.

The New York Times

"It is a valid concern," said David Riley, head of sovereign ratings at Fitch.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a valid concern", ensure the context clearly explains what the concern is and why it is considered valid. Providing specific reasons or evidence can strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid simply stating something is "a valid concern" without providing any supporting details or explanation. This can weaken your argument and leave the reader wondering why the concern is valid.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a valid concern" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig's examples confirm its use in expressing that a particular worry or issue is legitimate and worthy of attention.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a valid concern" is a widely recognized phrase that signifies a legitimate and noteworthy issue. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it appears frequently in diverse contexts, notably news, academia, and formal business settings. The phrase serves to emphasize the legitimacy of a worry and encourage its consideration. To effectively use "a valid concern", provide specific reasons and context, avoid overusing it without support. Related phrases include "a legitimate worry" and "a justifiable apprehension".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a legitimate worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry" and "valid" with "legitimate", emphasizing the genuineness of the worry.

a justifiable apprehension

Uses "apprehension" to replace "concern" and "justifiable" for "valid", highlighting the reason behind the concern.

a reasonable fear

Substitutes "concern" with "fear" and "valid" with "reasonable", focusing on the rationality of the fear.

a well-founded anxiety

Replaces "concern" with "anxiety" and "valid" with "well-founded", indicating a solid basis for the anxiety.

a warranted unease

Uses "unease" instead of "concern" and "warranted" instead of "valid", suggesting the unease is justified.

a substantiated worry

Replaces "valid" with "substantiated", indicating the worry has evidence supporting it.

a genuine reservation

Switches "concern" to "reservation" and "valid" to "genuine", focusing on authenticity.

a real misgiving

Employs "misgiving" instead of "concern" and "real" for "valid", highlighting the authenticity of the doubt.

a legitimate question

Shifts the focus from a general concern to a specific question that deserves consideration.

an understandable anxiety

Focuses on the comprehensibility of the anxiety rather than its validity.

FAQs

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

You can use "a valid concern" to introduce an issue that deserves attention and consideration. For example, "The environmental impact of the project is "a valid concern"."

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

You can use alternatives like "a legitimate worry", "a justifiable apprehension", or "a reasonable fear" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "a valid concern"?

While "valid" implies something is well-founded, explicitly stating ""a valid concern"" can add emphasis and clarity, particularly when you want to highlight the legitimacy of the concern.

What makes a concern "valid"?

A concern is considered "valid" when it's based on reasonable grounds, evidence, or potential negative outcomes. It's not merely an opinion but a worry supported by some form of justification.