brief concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"brief concern" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to express a short or minor worry about something. For example, "I have a brief concern regarding the project's timeline." Alternative expressions include "minor concern" and "slight worry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Koons allowed his sunny expression to show brief concern, then he beamed even more brightly.

The New Yorker

There was brief concern that the men's basketball team's 46-45 win over Occidental in 2011, which ended the 310-game conference losing streak, would be overturned.

The New York Times - Sports

An announcement late Thursday of sharply rising temperatures at the base of Reactor No. 3 had provoked brief concern, but regulators said Friday morning that the readings appeared to have come from a malfunctioning thermometer.

The New York Times

There was some brief concern that the pastry rule might disqualify the Croissanwich, which is obviously a sandwich.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In December, 2015, the Council of Economic Advisers, the research wing of the White House, released an issue brief concerning the escalating use of fines, fees, and money bail around the country.

The New Yorker

"Will underfunded bloggers be able to carry the financial burdens of opening our courtrooms?" The brief concerned the case of Eric Presley, a Georgia man convicted of cocaine trafficking.

The New York Times

Just Thursday prosecutors asked a federal judge to allow submission of a sealed brief concerning a "matter occurring before the grand jury".

Huffington Post

The film, in brief, concerns a very tricky romantic relationship that develops between a conflicted Serbian soldier (Goran Kostic) and a young Bosnian woman (Zana Marjanovic) who ends up living in captivity under his watch during the civil strife.

Huffington Post

Today the City of London coroners court released the following press briefing concerning the death of Ian Tomlinson: "On 9 April 2009 HM Coroner for the City of London opened and adjourned the inquest into the death of Ian Tomlinson.

The Guardian

Each study subject was given a one minute briefing concerning the simulated patient's medical condition, prior to boarding the helicopter.

BMC Medical Education

In December, a group of retired military officers filed an amicus brief expressing concern that "persons engaging in shocking behavior that the U.S. military does not itself tolerate for its own members have broad impunity from accountability".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, pairing this phrase with specific subjects (e.g., "brief concern concerning the methodology") helps maintain a precise and objective tone.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use "brief concern" when they mean the person was "briefly concerned". Use the former for the feeling itself (e.g., "There was brief concern") and the latter for the person's state (e.g., "They were briefly concerned").

Linguistic Context

In terms of syntax, "brief concern" functions as a noun phrase. It is composed of the attributive adjective "brief", which modifies the head noun "concern". According to Ludwig, it typically serves as the subject or the direct object of a sentence, often appearing after existential constructions like "there was" or as the object of verbs like "provoked" or "expressed".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "brief concern" is a highly reliable and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a short-lived state of worry. Ludwig AI analysis shows that it is particularly prevalent in News & Media and Scientific writing, where it serves to document transient issues or minor alarms that do not escalate into major crises. Whether you are reporting on a sports event, a scientific study or a corporate project, using this phrase helps you acknowledge a problem's existence while immediately signaling its resolution or limited significance. It is a more polished alternative to simpler phrases like "small worry" and is universally understood in professional English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fleeting worry

Emphasizes the very short duration of the feeling, often used in more literary or descriptive writing.

momentary apprehension

A more formal alternative that focuses on the feeling of dread or anticipation of trouble.

passing anxiety

Suggests a psychological state that moves through the mind without taking root.

slight unease

Highlights the low intensity of the concern rather than just its duration.

minor alarm

Suggests a slightly more active or urgent feeling than concern, though still limited in scope.

short-lived misgiving

Often used when the concern is related to a specific doubt or lack of confidence.

temporary doubt

Specifically refers to a lack of certainty that is expected to be resolved quickly.

faint disquiet

A more poetic or sophisticated way to describe a subtle, brief feeling of being unsettled.

quick hesitation

Focuses on the outward behavior resulting from the brief worry.

limited distress

Implies the concern is constrained both in time and emotional impact.

FAQs

How do I use "brief concern" in a professional email?

You can use it to address a minor issue that was quickly resolved, such as: "There was some "brief concern" regarding the deadline, but we are now back on track."

What can I say instead of "brief concern" in a news report?

Depending on the context, you might use "momentary worry", "passing anxiety" or "fleeting worry" to keep the tone neutral and concise.

Is "brief concern" formal enough for academic papers?

Yes, as seen in Ludwig's scientific examples from BMC and ScienceDirect, "brief concern" is frequently used to describe preliminary findings or minor methodological issues.

Which is better: "brief concern" or "momentary concern"?

Both are correct. "momentary concern" emphasizes the exact point in time, while "brief concern" highlights the short duration of the feeling.