an underlying concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'an underlying concern' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a feeling or idea that exists beneath the surface of something else, but is still important. For example, "Although they did not express it outwardly, there was an underlying concern about their future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The bulls are beginning to shout louder, albeit there remains an underlying concern that we may be in the midst of a bear market rally.

The Guardian - Business

Still, Ockham's "nominalism," in both the first and the second of the above senses, is often viewed as derived from a common source: an underlying concern for ontological parsimony.

SEP

Yet in the midst of wonderful inaugural events spiced with Latino sabor, an underlying concern emerged -- what future will America see if we have zero Latinos serving in the Cabinet?

Huffington Post

"I think everybody should have at least six monthly reviews…" (R6) "I think everybody should have at least six monthly reviews…" (R6) So whilst most patients were convinced during the sessions, especially by the presence of a trusted nurse, an underlying concern about being without support remained for a minority.

BMC Health Services Research

The safety of the nuclear arsenal in Pakistan, where the military has been fighting militants, is also an underlying concern.

The New York Times

Mr. Crandall and others also spot an underlying concern about inflation, although he does not consider that the main reason longer-term yields have moved higher.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

It is the heart of all other concerns — an underlying fear, usually left unspoken, for any struggling team.

The New York Times

(Participant F17) This theme also incorporated situations where participants heard about a friend's bad experience, and participants became anxious about getting help for themselves in a similar situation.The underlying concern appears to be fear of the unpredictable event while being isolated from help.

BMC Geriatrics

Mr. Blix's comments were significant because it has become more apparent in the wake of the unanimous Security Council vote last Friday that the convergence of goals to disarm Iraq masks a great deal of underlying concern by France, Russia and China that the United States would not give the inspection process a reasonable period of time to succeed.

The New York Times

It is an a priori or conceptual investigation, the underlying concern of which is to identify rather than to explain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But her subtitle should alert a nonscientific reader that her book is not a history of biology; her underlying concern is with the philosophical problem of what "understanding" means.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an underlying concern" to introduce a subtle worry or anxiety that may not be immediately apparent, but influences a situation or decision.

Common error

Avoid using "an underlying concern" when the worry is overt or obvious; this diminishes the phrase's impact. If the concern is prominent, use more direct language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an underlying concern" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a worry or anxiety that is not immediately apparent but influences events or decisions. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correctly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an underlying concern" is a noun phrase used to describe a subtle or implicit worry that influences a situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. It's most frequently found in news and media, science, and encyclopedic contexts, suggesting a neutral formality level. When using the phrase, ensure the concern is genuinely subtle to maintain its intended impact. Consider alternatives like "a hidden worry" or "a latent anxiety" to fine-tune the nuance of your writing. Be mindful of the potential to overstate the concern, using more direct language if the worry is overtly expressed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a hidden worry

Replaces 'concern' with 'worry' and 'underlying' with 'hidden', emphasizing the concealed nature of the worry.

a latent anxiety

Substitutes 'concern' with 'anxiety' and 'underlying' with 'latent', highlighting the dormant but present anxiety.

a secret apprehension

Replaces 'concern' with 'apprehension' and 'underlying' with 'secret', stressing the confidential nature of the apprehension.

an unspoken fear

Substitutes 'concern' with 'fear' and 'underlying' with 'unspoken', focusing on the fear that remains unvoiced.

a suppressed unease

Replaces 'concern' with 'unease' and 'underlying' with 'suppressed', highlighting the feeling of unease that is being held back.

a veiled disquiet

Substitutes 'concern' with 'disquiet' and 'underlying' with 'veiled', emphasizing the concealed feeling of disquiet.

a lurking suspicion

Replaces 'concern' with 'suspicion' and 'underlying' with 'lurking', highlighting the subtle but present suspicion.

a nagging doubt

Substitutes 'underlying concern' with 'nagging doubt', shifting the focus to a persistent doubt that causes worry.

a gnawing anxiety

Replaces 'underlying concern' with 'gnawing anxiety', emphasizing the persistent and troublesome nature of the anxiety.

a subtle reservation

Substitutes 'concern' with 'reservation' and 'underlying' with 'subtle', emphasizing a slight feeling of doubt.

FAQs

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

You can use "an underlying concern" to describe a subtle but significant worry that influences a situation. For example, "Despite the positive economic data, there was "an underlying concern" about long-term sustainability".

What phrases are similar to "an underlying concern"?

Similar phrases include "a hidden worry", "a latent anxiety", or "an unspoken fear", which all suggest a worry that is not openly expressed.

Is it better to say "underlying concern" or "overlying concern"?

"Underlying concern" is the correct term to use when referring to a concern that exists beneath the surface. "Overlying concern" doesn't make sense in this context.

What is the difference between "an underlying concern" and a general concern?

"An underlying concern" implies a subtle or implicit worry, while a general concern is a more direct and obvious worry.