be of concern for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be of concern for" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression would typically be "be of concern to" or "be a concern for." Example: "The rising pollution levels should be of concern to all residents in the area."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Kenyatta inherited security issues that continued to be of concern for his administration.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For all the Argentinian's stated pride in his team's performance, Spurs' striking options must be of concern for a Champions League manager with designs on the Premier League.

The Guardian - Sport

"The decision to partially close the Sellafield site and reduce its normal operations for the day due to elevated levels of radioactivity has to be of concern for all worried about this ageing facility," said the NFLA chair, the Manchester councillor Mark Hackett.

The Guardian

Beyond that, Mr. Fabrizio, the Republican pollster, said, the image of a youthful Mr. Edwards frolicking with his wife and two young children could help him with young voters and among moderate women, who have proven to be of concern for Republicans.

The New York Times

"Some of the results may be of concern for potential health effects in exposed individuals, particularly in sensitive subpopulations such as children and elderly," said Serap Erdal, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The New York Times

It is this last part in particular that can be of concern for IT.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Monsignor Kavanagh's suspension was of concern for other reasons.

The New York Times

The issue is of concern for both medical and psychosocial reasons.

The New York Times - Health

The presence of so-called brown clouds of pollution over urban areas has been of concern for decades.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But what is of concern for Verstappen is that the final accident was at the same place and strikingly similar to the one he had in practice.

The Guardian - Sport

Some of the 50 NHS trusts to which the Care Quality Commission are now paying particular attention over quality have been of concern for some time.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "be of concern for" is frequently used, especially in certain domains, prefer the grammatically correct alternatives like "be of concern to" or "be a concern for" to maintain clarity and avoid potential criticism from language purists.

Common error

A frequent mistake is using "for" instead of "to" after "be of concern". Always remember that the correct preposition is "to", as in, "This issue should be of concern to all of us."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be of concern for" functions to indicate that something is worrying or should be worrying to someone. Despite its frequent use, Ludwig AI suggests that this phrasing is grammatically incorrect and "be of concern to" is the more appropriate form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be of concern for" is used to express worry or highlight the significance of an issue. However, Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically incorrect. Although it appears frequently across various sources, including scientific journals and news articles, the preferred alternatives are "be of concern to" or "be a concern for". When writing, consider the audience and context, prioritizing grammatical correctness by using the suggested alternatives to ensure clarity and credibility. Pay special attention to choosing "to" instead of "for" to maintain proper grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be a matter of concern for

Adding "matter" emphasizes the importance or significance of the concern.

be a worry for

"Worry" is a more direct and common synonym for "concern".

be an issue for

"Issue" highlights a problem or challenge needing attention.

be something to consider for

This phrase emphasizes the need for thought and evaluation regarding the topic.

raise concerns for

This highlights the action of creating or expressing concern, rather than the state of being concerning.

be alarming for

"Alarming" suggests a higher level of worry or urgency.

be troubling for

"Troubling" indicates that something is causing unease or difficulty.

be a reason for concern for

Adding "reason" explicitly states that there's a basis for the worry.

pose a concern for

"Pose" highlights that something presents a concern or risk.

be a problem for

"Problem" is a more straightforward term for a difficult situation.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "be of concern" in a sentence?

The correct usage is either "be of concern to" (e.g., "This matter is of concern to the public") or "be a concern for" (e.g., "This matter is a concern for the authorities").

What are some alternatives to "be of concern for"?

Instead of "be of concern for", you can use phrases like "be a matter of concern for", "be a worry for", or "be an issue for" depending on the context.

Which is grammatically correct: "be of concern for" or "be of concern to"?

"Be of concern to" is the grammatically correct option. "Be of concern for" is generally considered incorrect, although it appears in some contexts.

What's the difference between "be of concern to" and "be a concern for"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "be of concern to" typically refers to who is worried or affected, whereas "be a concern for" highlights what poses the worry or challenge.