concern was increased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "concern was increased" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where anxiety or worry about a particular issue has grown over time. Example: "As the deadline approached, the concern was increased among the team regarding the project's completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

These statements antagonized the Palestinian leadership whose principal concern was increased Jewish settlement.

Wikipedia

The estimated importance of parental concern was increased (odds ratio 36.3, 12.3 to 107.1).

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A spokesman for the Screen Actors Guild, Greg Krizman, said the guilds' top concern was increasing pay for the nearly 75,000 members who secure acting work in any given year, some more frequently than others.

The New York Times

Concern is increasing that this decline has gone too far.

The New York Times

"The only concern is increasing the amount of people coming into the area".

The New York Times

International concern is increasing over the possibility of global warming (an amplification of Earth's greenhouse effect).

Encyclopedia Britannica

China clearly would like to lock up sources of fuel, but for the moment its main concern is increasing global supply.

The Economist

For now, my concern is increasing the gap between ourselves and fifth".

BBC

Concern is increasing worldwide for introducing dedicated courses on business ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility CSRR) in higher education curricula.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

In many countries across the world a universal issue of growing concern is increasing demand for health services and corresponding escalating costs.

Procedia CIRP

Causes of concern are increasing resistances of enterococci.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "concern was increased", ensure the context clearly indicates what caused the increase in concern. Providing specific details enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "concern was increased" can sound somewhat passive and stilted in formal writing. Consider stronger, more active verbs like "escalated", "intensified" or "grew" for a more impactful tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "concern was increased" is to describe a state of amplified worry or anxiety. It employs a passive construction, indicating that the concern has been acted upon, or grown by an external factor. As Ludwig indicates, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "concern was increased" is a grammatically correct but relatively rare expression used to indicate a rise in worry or anxiety. Ludwig confirms its usability while noting opportunities for stylistic improvement. Its primary contexts are in Science, News & Media, and Wiki. Consider active voice alternatives for a more direct and impactful tone, especially in formal writing. While correct, aiming for stronger verbs may enhance clarity and reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anxiety grew

Uses simpler vocabulary to express the escalation of worry.

disquiet increased

Uses "disquiet" to replace concern, maintaining a similar level of formality.

apprehension rose

Replaces "concern" with a synonym and "increased" with a verb indicating upward movement.

worries escalated

Employs a different noun and verb to convey the increase in worry.

fears intensified

Substitutes "concern" with "fears" and uses a stronger verb to indicate heightened worry.

alarm amplified

Replaces "concern" with "alarm" and uses a more technical verb.

unease mounted

Uses a different noun and verb to show a gradual increase in discomfort.

dread deepened

Conveys a stronger sense of fear and negativity.

trepidation mounted

Expresses a similar concept using a more formal and less common vocabulary.

solicitude augmented

Replaces concern with a formal synonym and increased with a formal verb.

FAQs

What does "concern was increased" mean?

The phrase "concern was increased" means that the level of worry, anxiety, or apprehension about something has grown or become more intense.

How can I rephrase "concern was increased" to sound more active?

Instead of "concern was increased", try using phrases like "concern escalated", "concern intensified", or "worry grew" for a more active and direct tone.

Is "concern was increased" formal or informal?

The phrase "concern was increased" is generally considered formal. In less formal contexts, simpler alternatives like "worries grew" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "concern was increased" and "concern increased"?

"Concern was increased" is in the passive voice, while "concern increased" is in the active voice. The active voice is generally more direct and concise. However, the passive voice can be useful when you want to emphasize the action rather than the actor.