be concerned that

USAGE SUMMARY

'be concerned that' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to express worry or unease about the possibility of something happening or being the case. Example: I was concerned that my flight would be delayed due to bad weather.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I think everyone should be concerned that would be the case," Mr Robinson said.

BBC

I must be concerned that she has come to harm".

Independent

Some may be concerned that team members will feel disempowered.

Harvard Business Review

And they will be concerned that Hague has not apologised.

The Guardian

Should people be concerned that technology means fewer steady jobs?

The Guardian

"They pretend to be concerned that we are impeding development in poor countries.

The New York Times - Science

Then he professed to be concerned that it might sound as if he were demeaning Brady.

The New York Times - Sports

Should I be concerned that the help desk technician knows the password?

The New York Times - Tech

Some British policy makers appear to be concerned that the program could stoke inflation.

The New York Times

They may be concerned that the inquiry will become too large, expensive and cumbersome.

Independent

With all this praise, should the Alley be concerned that Dallas is stealing its thunder?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be concerned that", clearly state the specific reason for your concern to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "I'm concerned that", say "I'm concerned that the budget cuts will affect our project timeline."

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "be concerned that" in formal reports or essays. Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement. For example, instead of "I'm concerned that the data is inaccurate. I'm also concerned that the methodology is flawed", try "Data inaccuracy and methodological flaws are significant concerns."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be concerned that" functions as a verb phrase that introduces a clause expressing worry, apprehension, or unease. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is used to signal concern about a potential negative outcome or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

13%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be concerned that" is a versatile expression used to convey worry, unease, or apprehension regarding a specific situation or potential outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely employed across various contexts, including news, business, science, and academia. The analysis of usage patterns highlights its prevalence in "News & Media" and "Formal & Business" contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "be worried that" or "have concerns that". When incorporating "be concerned that" into your writing, ensure you clearly articulate the reason for your concern to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be worried that

Focuses more directly on the feeling of worry, whereas "be concerned that" can also imply a rational assessment of risk.

be apprehensive that

Implies a greater degree of anxiety or fear about a potential outcome.

have concerns that

Shifts the focus to possessing concerns as opposed to the state of being concerned.

fear that

Expresses a stronger emotion of fear or dread regarding something.

be anxious that

Highlights a state of unease or nervousness about something.

be uneasy that

Suggests a lack of comfort or peace of mind regarding a situation.

worry that

A more direct and simple way to express worry about something.

have reservations that

Indicates doubts or hesitations about a particular situation or decision.

be skeptical that

Implies doubt about the truth or validity of something.

be suspicious that

Suggests a belief that something is wrong or dishonest.

FAQs

What does "be concerned that" mean?

The phrase "be concerned that" expresses a feeling of worry, unease, or apprehension about a potential negative outcome or situation. It implies that there is a reason to be worried or cautious.

What can I say instead of "be concerned that"?

You can use alternatives like "be worried that", "have concerns that", or "fear that" to express a similar sentiment.

How to use "be concerned that" in a sentence?

You can use "be concerned that" to introduce a statement about something that is causing you worry. For example: "Experts "be concerned that" /s/the+new+policy /s/will+negatively+impact+small+businesses." Note that the correct alternative to the query will be automatically selected when clicking on it, not the entire given sentence.

Is it better to use "be concerned about" or "be concerned that"?

"Be concerned about" generally refers to a general area of concern, while "be concerned that" introduces a specific worry or apprehension about something happening. For example, "I'm concerned about the environment" versus "I'm "be concerned that" /s/the+new+factory /s/will+pollute+the+river." Note that the correct alternative to the query will be automatically selected when clicking on it, not the entire given sentence.