frightening issue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "frightening issue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a topic or problem that causes fear or concern. Example: "The report highlighted a frightening issue regarding the safety of the new product, prompting immediate action from the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Nuclear power became the biggest and most frightening issue for the state's voters, while national polling on the Libyan intervention produced results suggesting a burst of German exceptionalism: 62 percent said the action was correct, while in parallel 65 percent insisted, with lotsa luck to its alliance pals, Germany must stay out.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But Tsonga is the healthier, more active player shooting for his third consecutive Wimbledon quarterfinal, and Fish's frightening heart issues cause concern about his strength over a long, physical match.

Huffington Post

They are informing would-be attackers that they have the capability to issue frightening reprisals.

The New York Times

That anyone with a keyboard and a little time could sway – and ruin – public commentary on a massively important political issue is frightening.

TechCrunch

Meanwhile, like other tech giants, Cisco has issued some nearly frightening, certainly mind-boggling statistics about how much data we will soon consume, thus requiring more clouds.

The New York Times

Laura is 13.5 and has no lingering issues from her frightening birth.

Huffington Post

The clinician must therefore decide whether, in an individual patient, the issue is pain or frightening hallucinations.

Critical Care

"Customers are no longer frightened by single issues," she says.

The Guardian - Money

It's as if the issue is too big, too frightening to contemplate.

The Guardian - Opinion

With Albert Finney as the boys' frightening dad. David Denby (Reviewed in our issue of 10/29/07).

The New Yorker

This is fine for some patients, but frightening to those who find the medical issues arcane or confusing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "frightening issue", ensure that the context clearly establishes the source and nature of the fear or concern. Providing specific details will enhance the impact and credibility of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "frightening issue" without clearly specifying what makes the issue frightening. Vague references can weaken your argument and leave the reader confused.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frightening issue" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "frightening" modifies the noun "issue". As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly describes a topic or problem that causes fear or concern.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "frightening issue" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe a subject that elicits fear or concern. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to highlight the alarming nature of a given topic. When employing this phrase, clarity is crucial; specifying what makes the issue frightening will amplify your message's impact. While the phrase itself is appropriate for neutral and even professional registers, its overuse without proper context should be avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alarming problem

Replaces 'frightening' with 'alarming' and 'issue' with 'problem', maintaining the sense of concern but with slightly different connotations.

concerning matter

Substitutes 'frightening' with 'concerning' and 'issue' with 'matter', softening the intensity while keeping the focus on something that requires attention.

disturbing subject

Changes 'frightening' to 'disturbing' and 'issue' to 'subject', highlighting the unsettling nature of the topic.

worrying development

Replaces 'frightening' with 'worrying' and 'issue' with 'development', emphasizing the potential negative progression of events.

ominous situation

Shifts the focus to the foreboding nature using 'ominous' instead of 'frightening' and 'situation' for 'issue'.

threatening prospect

Highlights potential harm or danger, using 'threatening' and 'prospect' to replace 'frightening' and 'issue'.

dire predicament

Emphasizes the severity of the situation, replacing 'frightening' and 'issue' with stronger terms.

troubling question

Focuses on the problematic aspect, softening the fear with 'troubling' instead of 'frightening'.

daunting challenge

Highlights the intimidating nature, replacing 'frightening' with 'daunting' and 'issue' with 'challenge'.

grave concern

Emphasizes the seriousness of the worry, offering a more formal alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "frightening issue" in a sentence?

You can use "frightening issue" to describe a problem or situation that causes significant fear or anxiety. For example, "The report highlighted a "frightening issue" regarding data privacy."

What are some alternatives to "frightening issue"?

Alternatives include "alarming problem", "concerning matter", or "disturbing subject", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "frightening issue" or "scary issue"?

"Frightening issue" is generally perceived as more formal and suitable for professional contexts compared to "scary issue", which is more informal. The best choice depends on your audience and the tone you want to set.

What makes an issue "frightening" rather than just "important"?

A "frightening issue" evokes a sense of fear, anxiety, or dread due to potential negative consequences. It goes beyond mere importance by introducing an emotional element of apprehension.