concern yourself with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Concern yourself with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to express that someone should focus their attention or worry on something. Example: "You should concern yourself with your studies and make sure you are getting good grades."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

HuffPost

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"You can't concern yourself with who's not here," Jeter said.

The New York Times

Do you concern yourself with chart places and all of that?

The Guardian - Music

She can't or won't say: "Well, you have technical things to concern yourself with," she suggests.

The Guardian - Arts

Don't concern yourself with plot; this movie is for girl-watching.

The New York Times

"You don't concern yourself with one or two at-bats or any given play," Rodriguez said.

The New York Times - Sports

'I'm sorry to have caught you in my confusion.' " 'Don't concern yourself with my opinion of you,' Finn said.

The New York Times - Books

Does having a vocation that helps others mean you should not concern yourself with material things like pay?

The Guardian

"If you concern yourself with being the darlings of the world, you'd never do anything for fear of being criticized," she said.

The New York Times

"In the theater, where everything is focused on your show," he says, "you just concern yourself with getting through your day and peaking for those three hours onstage.

The New York Times - Arts

If the election is won by mobilising your base, you do not need to concern yourself with the other side, except to limit its turnout.

The Economist

If you are going to mount your set on the wall, you will have to concern yourself with the question of weight.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "concern yourself with", ensure that the object of your concern is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of just saying "concern yourself", specify "concern yourself with the details".

Common error

While acceptable, using "concern yourself with" too frequently in highly formal writing can make your tone sound unnecessarily directive. Consider alternatives like "focus on" or "attend to" for a more neutral tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "concern yourself with" primarily functions as an imperative verb phrase, used to give a directive or advice. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently employed in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

24%

HuffPost

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

TechCrunch

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "concern yourself with" is a versatile phrase used to direct attention or emphasize the importance of something. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness, noting its common usage across varied contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Wiki, and HuffPost sources. While generally neutral in tone, it's essential to consider the context and choose alternatives like "focus on" or "pay attention to" in more formal settings. When using "concern yourself with", ensure clarity in defining the object of concern to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focus on

This alternative suggests a concentration of effort or attention on a specific subject or task.

concentrate on

Similar to 'focus on', this implies directing one's mental powers or resources toward a particular aim.

pay attention to

This suggests giving careful thought or consideration to something.

worry about

This alternative highlights the aspect of being anxious or troubled by something.

be mindful of

Implies being aware and attentive to something, often in a deliberate manner.

take interest in

This phrase suggests a feeling of curiosity or concern about something.

occupy yourself with

This implies filling one's time or attention with a particular activity or thought.

dedicate yourself to

Suggests committing oneself to a particular cause or activity.

attend to

Implies taking care of or dealing with something.

give thought to

Suggests considering or contemplating something.

FAQs

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

Use "concern yourself with" to advise someone to focus on or worry about something specific. For example, "Don't "concern yourself with" what others think" or "You should "concern yourself with" your own responsibilities".

What are some alternatives to "concern yourself with"?

You can use alternatives like "focus on", "concentrate on", or "pay attention to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "concerning yourself with"?

While "concerning yourself with" is grammatically correct, it is less common and often sounds more awkward than the imperative form ""concern yourself with"". It's typically used in more formal or reflective contexts.

What's the difference between "worry about" and "concern yourself with"?

"Worry about" emphasizes anxiety or unease, while ""concern yourself with"" suggests a more general interest or involvement. You "worry about" potential problems, but you ""concern yourself with"" tasks, responsibilities, or areas of interest.