adding to their apprehensions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adding to their apprehensions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing factors or events that increase someone's fears or concerns about a situation. Example: "The recent news reports about the economic downturn are adding to their apprehensions about job security."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The second theme was building on women's perception of breast cancer as an incurable disease associated with suffering and death, their fear of the risk of diminished femininity, husband's rejection and social stigmatization, adding to their apprehensions about breast health examinations.

BMC Women's Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

That adds to their segregation.

The New Yorker

It adds to their creepy mystery.

Independent

That disorder only adds to their amplitude.

The New York Times - Books

Even small donations add to their permanence.

The New York Times

A few added to their fortunes.

Forbes

Today may have added to their doubts.

BBC

But like the razor wire itself, Mosul remains a city that can be pulled in either direction, adding to apprehensions on all sides as U.S. forces prepare to withdraw this month from checkpoints they still man with Iraqi soldiers, including the Kurdish peshmerga.

The Washington Post

Negotiations over casting were facilitated by computer wizardry, adding to his natural apprehension.

The Guardian - Books

Now those living in the besieged areas are bracing for fresh attacks, with the arrival of a Russian frigate armed with cruise missiles adding to apprehension.

The Guardian

Houston's victory only added to the apprehension around the Penn State program.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "adding to their apprehensions", ensure the context clearly establishes the pre-existing fears or concerns to which something is being added.

Common error

Avoid using "adding to their apprehensions" when the situation warrants a stronger term like "triggering" or "instigating", as "adding to" implies a gradual increase, not a sudden onset of fear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adding to their apprehensions" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of increasing existing anxieties or worries. As seen in Ludwig, it suggests a cumulative effect on pre-existing concerns.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "adding to their apprehensions" is a phrase used to describe the intensification of existing fears or worries within a group. Grammatically correct and primarily found in news and scientific contexts, as Ludwig shows, it's best employed when describing a gradual increase in anxiety rather than a sudden onset. Remember to ensure clarity by establishing the pre-existing fears and considering stronger alternatives if the situation requires. The phrase's relative infrequency suggests a more precise or nuanced alternative might be preferable in certain writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasing their fears

Directly replaces "adding to" with "increasing", focusing on the emotion of fear.

heightening their concerns

Replaces "apprehensions" with "concerns" and "adding to" with "heightening", suggesting a more moderate increase in worry.

exacerbating their anxieties

Uses "exacerbating" to convey a worsening of existing anxieties, adding a sense of intensity.

fuelling their worries

Employs "fuelling" to create an image of the worries growing stronger.

intensifying their unease

Replaces "apprehensions" with "unease", indicating a general feeling of discomfort that is becoming stronger.

compounding their dread

Uses "compounding" to suggest that something is worsening an already bad situation, and "dread" to intensify the emotion.

augmenting their misgivings

Replaces "apprehensions" with "misgivings" and "adding to" with "augmenting", implying an increase in doubt or hesitation.

contributing to their worries

Uses "contributing" to suggest that other facts are causing the increase in worries.

feeding their anxieties

Employs "feeding" to create an image of the anxieties gaining power and influence.

bolstering their anxieties

Uses "bolstering" to imply that anxieties are supported by new external facts.

FAQs

How can I use "adding to their apprehensions" in a sentence?

You can use "adding to their apprehensions" to describe how a new event or information increases existing worries or fears. For example: "The company's restructuring plans are "adding to their apprehensions" about potential job losses."

What are some alternatives to "adding to their apprehensions"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "increasing their fears", "heightening their concerns", or "exacerbating their anxieties".

Is it correct to say "adding to their apprehension" instead of "adding to their apprehensions"?

While "apprehension" can refer to a general feeling of anxiety, "apprehensions" (plural) is more suitable when referring to specific worries or concerns held by a group of people. The plural form emphasizes the multiple aspects of their unease.

What's the difference between "adding to their apprehensions" and "calming their apprehensions"?

"Adding to their apprehensions" describes a situation where something increases worries, while "calming their apprehensions" means reducing or alleviating their fears. They are opposite in meaning.