an apprehension about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an apprehension about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a feeling of anxiety or concern regarding a specific subject or situation. Example: "She had an apprehension about the upcoming exam, fearing she might not perform well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In some quarters they might be considered as bold, in others an apprehension about what it is they want.

Independent

But when you're contemplating a career as an actor, he said, "there's an apprehension about having some measure of control over your destiny".

The New York Times - Food

The public prosecutor, Rajeev Mohan, told the court that there was also an apprehension about the safety of the accused in court, because of the large gathering.

The New York Times

Perhaps the most I could conclude about the lasting effect of September 11th is that it has brought into most of our minds an apprehension about the future that was never there before in our lifetimes, even more disturbing than our apprehensions about nuclear war earlier, and I am sure that, depending on what happens in the future, American poetry will become increasingly political.

The New Yorker

Excerpt: Henry and I share an apprehension about dentists that borders on the comical.

Forbes

For some, there was an apprehension about travelling too far away from the LTC facility in case something happened to their family member's health.

BMC Geriatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But do young women coming up in the city today hold a similar apprehension about an allegiance to old archetypes of female power?

The New York Times

My university friends were equally positive but I also sensed a certain apprehension about spending a year abroad in a multilingual region.

The Guardian

In schools some children — and not just the children of police officers — openly expressed an ominous apprehension about the future.

The New York Times

Though the actor enjoyed playing the part of Brainiac, Marsters did have an initial apprehension about taking the role.

Wikipedia

Underpinning the discussion of fuerdai in China is a national apprehension about the future élite of a country that is just coming of age.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an apprehension about" to express a specific feeling of anxiety or concern regarding a particular situation or future event. It's suitable when the worry is not overwhelming but still present.

Common error

Avoid using "an apprehension about" when a stronger term like "fear" or "terror" is more appropriate. "Apprehension" implies a moderate level of unease, not intense dread.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an apprehension about" functions as a noun phrase that expresses a feeling of anxiety, worry, or unease regarding a particular situation or event. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is commonly used in various contexts to convey a sense of anticipating potential negative outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an apprehension about" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that expresses a feeling of worry or unease concerning a specific situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for use in various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific writing, though it's more common in the former. While "an apprehension about" is generally appropriate, it's important to consider the intensity of the emotion you wish to convey, as stronger terms may be necessary in some cases. Remember that using suitable phrases like "a worry regarding" or "a concern about" can provide subtle differences in meaning. While its presence is not as dominant, it is important to note that it expresses worry in a specific way.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a worry regarding

Replaces "apprehension" with "worry", focusing on the mental state of concern.

a concern about

Substitutes "apprehension" with "concern", highlighting the element of care and consideration.

a fear of

Uses "fear" instead of "apprehension", emphasizing a stronger emotion of dread.

unease regarding

Replaces "apprehension" with "unease", focusing on a feeling of discomfort.

anxiety about

Substitutes "apprehension" with "anxiety", pointing to a state of nervousness and worry.

a misgiving concerning

Employs "misgiving" to suggest a feeling of doubt or apprehension.

a reservation about

Uses "reservation" to indicate a feeling of doubt or hesitation.

a dread of

Replaces "apprehension" with "dread", suggesting a strong feeling of fear or aversion.

a foreboding about

Substitutes "apprehension" with "foreboding", conveying a sense of impending doom.

a trepidation regarding

Uses "trepidation" instead of "apprehension", highlighting a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen.

FAQs

How can I use "an apprehension about" in a sentence?

You can use "an apprehension about" to express a feeling of worry or unease about something specific. For example, "She had "an apprehension about" the upcoming exam".

What phrases are similar to "an apprehension about"?

Similar phrases include "a worry regarding", "a concern about", or "a fear of", each conveying a different nuance of unease or concern.

Is it more formal to say "an apprehension about" or "a worry about"?

"An apprehension about" tends to be slightly more formal than "a worry about". The choice depends on the context and the desired tone of your writing.

When should I not use "an apprehension about"?

Avoid using "an apprehension about" if you want to express a very strong or intense feeling of fear. In such cases, words like "terror", "dread", or "panic" would be more appropriate.