generate concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "generate concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or situations that lead to feelings of worry or anxiety among individuals or groups. Example: "The recent rise in crime rates has generated concern among local residents about their safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"We certainly recognize that any time anthrax is involved, it can generate concern," Mr. Gerrish said.

The New York Times

In most countries, such a revelation would generate concern and sympathy, but rarely surprise.

The New York Times

It has even been hard to generate concern among residents of this preternaturally carefree town.

The New York Times

For example, how do you generate concern over the fact that Mr. Bush apparently attended the Ronald Reagan school of economics?

The New York Times

"While such decontamination may be desirable, it may not be desirable to generate concern by having an explicit and distinct (chemical and biological) decontamination station placed in a building hallway".

The New York Times

"If you don't have the real estate, you can't grow, and if it does exist, you can't wait". Of course there would not be opportunity without risk, and developers' focus on smaller Chinese cities does generate concern.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

That is expected to generate concerns as well.

The New York Times

Plans for a high speed rail line in Holland generate concerns about the impact on the living environment.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The crackdown by pro leagues on offensive speech may generate concerns about the rights of players, or about the reflexive nature of the kind of group outrage that's fostered by the Internet.

The New Yorker

In foster care because many experiences are temporary, foster children often generate concerns about survival and constant moving instead of developing life skills, such as how to become financially responsible.

Huffington Post

Unfortunately such a recruitment strategy is likely to complicate the study design and to generate concerns regarding population stratification.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "generate concern", consider the specific emotion you wish to convey. Alternatives like "arouse anxiety" or "provoke unease" can offer more nuanced meanings.

Common error

Avoid relying on "generate concern" excessively in formal contexts. More precise vocabulary, such as "precipitate anxiety" or "engender apprehension", can enhance the sophistication and clarity of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "generate concern" functions as a verb phrase where 'generate' acts as a transitive verb, and 'concern' is its direct object. This phrase signifies the act of creating or producing a feeling of worry or anxiety. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "generate concern" is a valid and useful phrase that indicates the act of creating worry or anxiety. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears in various reputable sources, especially in News & Media, Science and Academia. While not the most frequent expression, it provides a clear and professional way to communicate the idea of causing concern. For nuanced writing, consider alternatives like "spark apprehension" or "arouse anxiety". Remember to use "generate concern" when you want to highlight the creation of worry due to a specific event or situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spark apprehension

This alternative emphasizes a sudden or immediate onset of worry.

arouse anxiety

This phrase points more directly to the feeling of anxiety as a result.

provoke unease

This alternative suggests a feeling of discomfort or disquiet.

raise alarm

This phrase highlights the action of warning others about a potential danger.

foster worry

Suggests cultivating or encouraging worry.

instill fear

Emphasizes the creation of a feeling of fear.

breed suspicion

Suggests causing a feeling of doubt or mistrust.

prompt disquiet

Highlights an immediate feeling of anxiety or disturbance.

stir unease

Similar to 'provoke unease', but with a sense of movement or activation.

trigger alarm bells

This alternative conveys a strong and immediate warning signal.

FAQs

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

You can use "generate concern" to describe actions or situations that cause worry. For example: "The company's financial instability is starting to generate concern among its investors."

What can I say instead of "generate concern"?

You can use alternatives like "raise alarm", "provoke unease", or "spark apprehension" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "generate concern" or "generated concern"?

"Generate concern" is used to describe the action of causing worry, while "generated concern" describes the result. For example, "The news might generate concern" vs. "The news has generated concern".

What's the difference between "generate concern" and "cause worry"?

"Generate concern" is slightly more formal than "cause worry". Both phrases mean to create a feeling of anxiety, but "generate concern" might be preferred in professional or academic writing.