concern lies with

USAGE SUMMARY

"concern lies with" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that the focus of a certain issue or situation is on a particular person or thing. For example, "Many people are worried about the state of the economy, but concern lies with those who are unemployed and unable to find jobs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Our concern lies with the major proposed alternative to the current system.

The Guardian

It is a tool for the EU to pass the buck for border control to private companies whose primary concern lies with their bottom line.

Independent

Concern lies with those who do not get enough protein, vitamins B12 and D, iron, calcium and zinc in their diets.

The New York Times - Health

What he forgets, however, is that our primary concern lies with patient safety and he's done nothing to assuage those concerns.

The Guardian

"As we begin to gather information our primary concern lies with the ongoing safety and security of those involved in our response and recovery operations.

The Guardian

An intermediate level of landscape fragmentation appeared to decrease variation in total bird abundance and to provide greater overall species richness, the latter an important consideration when the concern lies with optimizing multiple species management.

Ecological Modelling

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Coates mentions this without the crucial qualifier that Moynihan's particular concern lay with the mismatch between the authority structure young people were encountering at home and the reality of a male authority structure in the broader society--a simple empirical reality in 1965.

Huffington Post

Given that its overall concerns lie with its bottom line, rather than its service to the public, it has been ripe for capture.

University of California, Berkeley

My foremost concerns lay with Palestine, from where I returned this time last year, and with Egypt, where I had been the Christmas before.

The Guardian - Opinion

For now, his concerns lay with another group of German teenagers on exchange in the town, he said, this one made up of 35 students from Hamburg.

The Guardian

This is true of course and our concerns lie with new claimants who will suffer from receiving a third less than current recipients of ESA; 28% of whom say they sometimes can't afford to eat with the amount they have to live on.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "concern lies with" to indicate a specific area of focus or worry, rather than a general feeling of unease.

Common error

Avoid placing extraneous information between "concern" and "lies with", as it can disrupt the flow and obscure the intended meaning. For instance, instead of saying "The main concern for the project, despite its initial success, lies with the long-term funding", rephrase it as "The main concern for the project lies with the long-term funding, despite its initial success".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "concern lies with" functions as a linking phrase, connecting a general area of worry or attention to a specific subject or object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It commonly introduces the specific focus of a problem or issue.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "concern lies with" is a versatile phrase used to pinpoint the subject of worry or attention. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and finds frequent use across News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the object of concern and avoiding disruptive modifiers. Alternatives like "focus is on" or "emphasis is on" can provide stylistic variation. As Ludwig examples show, it effectively highlights key issues in discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focus is on

Replaces "concern" with "focus" and restructures the sentence slightly.

emphasis is on

Substitutes "concern" with "emphasis", highlighting the area of importance.

priority is with

Changes "concern" to "priority", indicating what is most important.

attention is directed towards

Replaces the phrase with a more formal and descriptive alternative.

main issue revolves around

Shifts the focus to the problem itself, rather than the feeling of concern.

central point is

Highlights the core element of discussion, minimizing the emotional aspect.

chief worry pertains to

Offers a more formal and anxious tone compared to the original phrase.

matter of interest is

Neutralizes the concern, focusing on interest rather than worry.

primary responsibility rests with

Shifts the meaning to accountability and duty instead of concern.

the buck stops at

An idiom expressing ultimate responsibility, quite different in tone and directness.

FAQs

How can I use "concern lies with" in a sentence?

You can use "concern lies with" to indicate the primary focus of worry or responsibility. For example, "The main "concern lies with" the safety of the participants".

What's a formal alternative to "concern lies with"?

A more formal alternative could be "emphasis is directed toward". For example, "The "emphasis is on" ensuring compliance with regulations".

Is it better to say "concern is with" or "concern lies with"?

Both "concern is with" and "concern lies with" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the specific context and desired tone. "Concern lies with" often implies a more specific or defined focus.

What does "concern lies with" mean?

The phrase "concern lies with" means that the main worry, focus, or responsibility is directed towards a particular thing or person. It indicates where the primary issue or problem resides.