an overarching concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"an overarching concern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a broad issue that is especially important or that influences and affects other issues. For example: "Having an adequate supply of affordable housing is an overarching concern in this city."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

By this I mean an overarching concern about or demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at the expense of a well-rounded education, and the equation of STEM education with usefulness and worthiness.

University of California, Berkeley

Yet, for Ms. Merkel, an overarching concern is that a disorderly exit by Greece from the euro zone could generate far more problems than it solves.

The New York Times

The reforms the initiatives suggest may be motivated by an overarching concern about economic efficiency, and as my colleague's post below suggests, this motive may leads conservative reformers into policies that don't make sense.

The Economist

The demonstration here was part of a wave of actions across the nation that combines traditional not-in-my-backyard protests against fossil-fuel projects with an overarching concern about climate change.

The New York Times - Science

Cybersecurity will be an overarching concern: thus, smart meters, which are potential points of attack, will be limited in their use much more than in terrestrial microgrids   j.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

He believed the show needed a unified fan base at the time, as there existed an overarching concern that Hasbro would not be authorizing a second season.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Both the search for the truth and the right to vote are of paramount importance, but they are circumscribed by a higher, overarching concern the general welfare of our democracy...

The New York Times

Both the search for the truth and the right to vote are of paramount importance, but they are circumscribed by a higher, overarching concern the general welfare of our democracy.... Inherent in the law are the basic concepts of fairness, reliability, and predictability; and the constitutional safeguards of due process and equal protection were designed to promote these interests.

The New York Times

The international community's overarching concern must be to seal a serious and significant deal at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen in December to curtail CO2 emissions and assist vulnerable countries to adapt.

The Guardian

Rather, it is the entire reorganization and homogenization of the sea that is of overarching concern.

The New York Times - Magazine

Their overarching concern is about the lack of migrant voices in stories.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an overarching concern" to frame the most significant issue or priority in a given situation or context. This emphasizes its widespread impact and importance.

Common error

Avoid using "an overarching concern" for trivial matters. Reserve it for issues with significant and widespread implications to maintain its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overarching concern" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a central or dominant issue requiring attention. It's used to frame a particular problem or priority as one that has broad implications and affects multiple areas, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overarching concern" is a grammatically correct phrase used to highlight a major, pervasive issue. According to Ludwig, it serves to emphasize the significance and widespread impact of a problem, making it suitable for formal and neutral contexts like news, science, and academic writing. While not extremely common, it’s a valuable phrase for drawing attention to critical matters. Remember to use it appropriately, reserving it for issues with significant and widespread implications to maintain its impact. Related phrases like "a primary concern" or "a chief concern" can offer slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a primary concern

Replaces "overarching" with "primary", emphasizing the importance of the concern.

a chief concern

Substitutes "overarching" with "chief", highlighting the main aspect of the worry.

a central worry

Replaces "overarching concern" with "central worry", indicating the core of the anxiety.

a dominant issue

Changes "concern" to "issue" and "overarching" to "dominant", focusing on the prevailing problem.

a key priority

Replaces "concern" with "priority" and "overarching" with "key", shifting the focus to what's most important.

a major preoccupation

Substitutes "concern" with "preoccupation" and "overarching" with "major", emphasizing a state of being intensely worried.

a principal anxiety

Changes "concern" to "anxiety" and "overarching" to "principal", focusing on a primary cause of worry.

a prevailing apprehension

Replaces "concern" with "apprehension" and "overarching" with "prevailing", highlighting the widespread fear.

the foremost consideration

Substitutes "overarching concern" with "foremost consideration", focusing on what is most important when making a decision.

the most significant worry

Changes "overarching concern" to "most significant worry", emphasizing importance and potential impact.

FAQs

How can I use "an overarching concern" in a sentence?

You can use "an overarching concern" to highlight a major issue that affects many aspects of a situation. For example, "Data security is "an overarching concern" for businesses operating online".

What are some alternatives to "an overarching concern"?

Alternatives include "a primary concern", "a chief concern", or "a central worry". These phrases can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "an overarching concern" in formal writing?

Yes, "an overarching concern" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing significant issues in business, academia, or politics. It is a grammatically correct and widely understood phrase.

What makes "an overarching concern" different from a simple "concern"?

"An overarching concern" implies that the issue is not just a minor worry but a pervasive and influential factor affecting multiple areas. It suggests a higher level of importance and broader impact than a general "concern".