describe their concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "describe their concern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to explain or articulate what is troubling or worrying them. Example: "During the meeting, I encouraged the team to describe their concern about the project's timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The GPs were all careful to describe their concern for the patient based on the prevailing circumstances of caring for an older person during the end of life stage.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The three-page draft document was delivered at dawn, after each of the 14 other nations met on Friday with the French president, Jacques Chirac, to describe their concerns and desires.

The New York Times

According to the group Breaking the Silence, the witness statements of the 15 soldiers who have come forward to describe their concerns over Operation Cast Lead appear to corroborate claims of random killings and vandalism carried out during the operation made by a separate group of anonymous servicemen during a seminar at a military college.

The Guardian

Fragmentation is the word critics use to describe their concerns about the free schools and academies policy.

BBC

Others encouraged patients to describe their concerns and fears in the hope that they could be redressed through discussion.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

In the interviews, the researcher elicited narratives by asking the participants to choose two or three 'children, young people or families who had prompted maltreatment-related concerns' and describe their concerns and involvement.

BMJ Open

Therefore, although these youth demonstrate a pattern of risky behavior and describe their concerns about exposing themselves to risk, their common protection strategies (pulling out, going for an STI test after engaging in unprotected sex, hearing their partner say that he/she is "clean" without confirmation, etc).

BMC Public Health

These youth not only minimized their risky sexual behavior by using (sometimes multiple) effective protection strategies but they often described their concern about the consequences of their few risky sexual experiences.

BMC Public Health

Neighbours described their concerns before the accident in the early hours of 22 March 2013.

The Guardian

The statement did not explain their votes, but all three described their concerns in the weeks before the meeting.

The New York Times

The American officials described their concerns against a backdrop of continuing attacks against foreigners, military and civilian.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "describe their concern", ensure that the context provides a clear understanding of what the concern relates to, making the description more focused and meaningful.

Common error

Avoid framing sentences with excessive passive voice when using "describe their concern". Instead of saying "Their concern was described by them", opt for the more direct "They described their concern" to maintain clarity and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "describe their concern" functions as a request or instruction for someone to articulate or explain their worry or issue. It is used to elicit a detailed account of what is causing anxiety or unease. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "describe their concern" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that functions as a request for someone to articulate their worries or issues. While Ludwig indicates that this phrase is valid, it's essential to use it in a contextually appropriate manner, ensuring clarity and avoiding overly passive constructions. Alternative phrases such as ""express their worries"" or ""articulate their apprehension"" can be used to add variety and precision to your writing. The phrase finds its usage across varied contexts, from scientific publications to news media, demonstrating its versatility in eliciting detailed explanations of anxieties or problems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

express their worries

Uses simpler terms, making it more direct and less formal.

share their anxieties

Highlights the act of sharing personal anxieties with others.

explain their anxiety

Focuses specifically on feelings of anxiety, providing a clearer emotional context.

convey their unease

Emphasizes a feeling of discomfort or anxiety being communicated.

articulate their apprehension

Replaces "describe" with "articulate" and "concern" with "apprehension", suggesting a more formal and detailed expression of anxiety.

detail their fears

Highlights the specific aspects of what they are afraid of.

voice their misgivings

Implies a sense of doubt or hesitation being communicated.

outline their reservations

Suggests a structured explanation of their hesitations.

communicate their reservations

Focuses on communicating doubts or hesitations to someone.

divulge their fears

Suggests revealing hidden or private fears.

FAQs

How can I use "describe their concern" in a sentence?

You can use "describe their concern" to ask someone to explain their worry or issue, as in, "The manager asked the employees to describe their concern about the new policy".

What are some alternatives to "describe their concern"?

You can use alternatives like "express their worries", "articulate their apprehension", or "voice their misgivings" depending on the context.

Which is more appropriate: "describe their concern" or "express their concern"?

"Describe their concern" focuses on detailing the specifics of the worry, while "express their concern" emphasizes the act of communicating the worry. The best choice depends on the desired emphasis.

What's the difference between "describe their concern" and "address their concern"?

"Describe their concern" means to explain the worry. "Address their concern" means to take action to resolve the worry.