gave concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gave concern" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate phrase would be "caused concern" or "raised concern." Example: "The sudden increase in pollution levels gave concern to the local community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

gave concern to those who drafted the Free Exercise Clause". Ante at ___ (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

Cornell University

Indeed, it was "historical instances of religious persecution and intolerance that gave concern to those who drafted the Free Exercise Clause". Bowen v. Roy, 476 U.S. 693, 703 (1986) (opinion of Burger, C.J.).

Cornell University

The details of the PWC investigation were passed to Ofgem for investigation, including 20 cases that gave concern.

BBC

Some paper gave concern to the specificity of the QFT as they observed high conversion and reversion rates.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Given concern about taxes, neither the state nor the commission is exactly awash in discretionary funds.

The New York Times

However, some tremors have been felt – similar to those in the Blackpool region – and have given concern to local residents.

The Guardian

However, October was a fairly high-traffic period for cable news, given concern over the government shutdown.

Los Angeles Times

Biopsy was not performed at this time given concern for endobronchial bleeding.

F1000Research

Poor responses from many countries to requests for national statistics continued to give concern.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The relatively low number of GPs in our survey and lack of power may give concern of type II errors.

BMC Health Services Research

A formal theory is given concerning situations.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for stronger verbs like "caused", "raised", or "prompted" with "concern" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness. For example, instead of "The report gave concern", use "The report caused concern."

Common error

Avoid using "gave" with "concern"; it's not standard English. Choose verbs that actively express causation or the act of instilling worry, such as "caused", "raised", or "prompted".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gave concern" functions as a verb phrase intended to express that something has caused worry or unease. However, Ludwig indicates that this phrasing is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. It is more common and correct to use alternatives such as "caused concern."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Academia

25%

News & Media

25%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "gave concern" might be used to express that something has caused worry or anxiety, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig indicates that this usage is not ideal, and suggests opting for stronger alternatives like "caused concern", "raised concern", or "prompted concern". Although examples of the phrase can be found in various sources, including scientific and news outlets, it is best to use these alternatives for clearer and more grammatically sound writing. Remember to choose verbs that actively convey the instilling of worry, enhancing both clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caused worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry", a more common synonym that also implies anxiety or unease.

raised apprehension

Uses a more formal vocabulary, replacing "concern" with "apprehension" to suggest a sense of foreboding.

prompted unease

Emphasizes the feeling of discomfort or anxiety created by a situation or information.

generated anxiety

Focuses on the creation of anxious feelings, indicating a more pronounced state of worry.

aroused suspicion

Suggests that something has caused people to be distrustful or skeptical.

instilled doubt

Indicates that uncertainty or lack of confidence has been introduced.

sparked reservations

Implies that initial acceptance has been tempered by second thoughts or objections.

fostered misgivings

Highlights the growth of uneasy feelings about a future event or outcome.

triggered alarm

Conveys a sense of urgent worry or fear, suggesting a more serious situation.

invited scrutiny

Shifts the focus to increased attention and examination due to potential problems.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct alternative to "gave concern"?

More standard alternatives include phrases like "caused concern", "raised concern", or "prompted concern". These options are more widely accepted in formal writing.

How can I use "concern" correctly in a sentence?

Use "concern" with verbs like "cause", "raise", or "express". For instance, "The issue caused significant concern among the residents" or "The residents expressed their concern about the development".

What does it mean when something "causes concern"?

It signifies that something has led to worry, anxiety, or unease. It suggests that there is a reason to be cautious or apprehensive about a particular situation or issue.

Is there a difference between "gave concern" and "caused concern"?

Yes. While "gave concern" might be understood, it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English. "Caused concern" is the preferred and more widely accepted way to express that something has led to worry or anxiety.