cause us concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause us concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that something is troubling or worrisome to a group or individual. Example: "The recent increase in cyber attacks has begun to cause us concern regarding our data security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The benefit of what REACH will do is force us to understand nearly all the end-use applications and see if there are any applications that cause us concern".

Environmental Health Perspectives

"The concerns raised by our allies cause us concern too," Carney said.

The Guardian

As I see it, there are three inter-linking issues that should cause us concern.

The Guardian

"By any criteria the timescales involved are very tight, but to add a huge cut like that to a major substantial benefit really does cause us concern.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"This is not causing us concern".

The New York Times

"One of the things that we are looking at is around learned behaviour and this is causing us concern.

The Guardian

"This woman — who was 5 foot 7, less than 110 pounds — was without doubt emotionally disturbed, and at this stage the family understands why the Phoenix Police Department intervened, but it's what happened after the intervention that causes us concern".

The New York Times

But "what really caused us concern", says Siwan Hayward, TfL's deputy director of enforcement and on-street operations, "was that of those women, less than 10% had gone on to report it".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mr. Hinshaw of the district attorney's office said, "We have not seen anything here in Nassau County that caused us concern about any pattern or systemic altering of crime classifications designed to skew crime statistics".

The New York Times

It added that the police's internal investigation into the SDS showed that "there has been some behaviour and practice by this unit that today causes us concern, but even when it is uncomfortable for us we are determined to face up to the facts and learn from the past".

The Guardian

"We haven't had any sightings of Mikaeel and that obviously causes us concern".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "cause us concern", ensure the context clearly defines who 'us' refers to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

While grammatically sound, repeatedly using "cause us concern" can make your writing sound monotonous. Vary your language by using synonyms like "raise our worries" or "give us pause" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause us concern" functions as a predicate in a sentence, expressing that something is creating worry or unease for a group of people. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cause us concern" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey worry or unease. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for various contexts, though its frequency is uncommon. Predominantly found in news and media, science, and formal business settings, the phrase serves to highlight potential negative consequences and signal the need for attention. While effective, varying the language with synonyms like "raise our worries" or "give us pause" can enhance writing by preventing it from sounding monotonous.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make us anxious

This is a more direct and simple way to express the feeling of anxiety caused by something.

arouse our worries

This alternative uses the verb 'arouse' to highlight the act of instigating worries rather than stating a general state of concern.

lead us to be apprehensive

Similar to 'generate apprehension', this highlights the process of becoming apprehensive and focusing on future possibilities.

prompt our unease

Replaces 'concern' with 'unease', indicating a feeling of discomfort or anxiety, possibly less severe than full-blown concern.

engender our reservations

Replacing 'concern' with 'reservations' indicates having doubts and not being fully convinced or comfortable with something.

give rise to our misgivings

Replaces 'concern' with 'misgivings', suggesting doubts or hesitations about something.

generate apprehension for us

Focuses on the creation of apprehensive feelings, which suggests a forward-looking worry about potential future events.

instill disquiet in us

Uses 'disquiet' to denote a state of worry or disturbance, which can be more subtle than fear or anxiety.

spark our fears

Indicates a more intense emotional reaction, replacing concern with 'fears', implying significant anxiety.

foster our wariness

Implies a cautious approach due to potential dangers, swapping concern with a sense of alert watchfulness.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "cause us concern" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "engender apprehension", "raise significant doubts", or "give rise to misgivings".

What's a more direct way to say "cause us concern"?

For a more direct approach, you can say "make us anxious", "worry us", or "trouble us" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always necessary to include "us" in the phrase "cause concern"?

No, it's not always necessary. If the context makes it clear who is experiencing concern, you can simply say "cause concern". However, specifying "us" clarifies who is affected.

What are some situations where "cause us concern" is particularly appropriate?

This phrase is suitable when discussing potential risks, expressing unease about developments, or highlighting issues that warrant attention. For example, "The lack of funding may "cause us concern" regarding the project's future".