great worry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "great worry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a significant concern or anxiety about a particular issue or situation. Example: "The recent rise in cyber attacks has become a great worry for many businesses trying to protect their data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Spin bowling is Australia's other great worry.

The New York Times - Sports

This is the modern game's great worry.

Independent

And that is a source of great worry for publishers.

The New York Times

Still, Mr. Bush's apparent determination to build a missile defense has caused great worry.

The New York Times

That cannot be said about the market's second great worry: collapsing oil prices.

The Guardian - Business

My great worry is that there are a lot of people going to jail on bad information".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

How Mr. Sayyaf will respond is one of the great worries here, a Western diplomat said.

The New York Times

There were great worries about this scaffolding, when a sudden storm hit Bethel on day three.

The Guardian - Music

Often prison personnel has great worries about releasing severely disturbed clients, with no more than a plastic bag and a bus ticket to town.

BMC Psychiatry

"The greatest worry is the unknown".

The New York Times

Children's parties are the greatest worry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger alternatives like "grave concern" or "deep anxiety" when the situation warrants a more emphatic expression of worry.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "great worry" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In less formal settings, consider using phrases like "big worry" or "major concern" to maintain a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "great worry" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "great" modifies the noun "worry". It expresses a state of significant concern or anxiety, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "great worry" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, typically employed to convey a significant level of concern or anxiety. Ludwig's analysis shows its usage spans various contexts, predominantly appearing in news and media, with a neutral to formal tone. While accurate, it's important to consider the formality and choose alternative phrases like "great concern" or "serious apprehension" for specific situations. Also, be mindful of overwording, instead, just use "concern" or "worry".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

great concern

Replaces "worry" with a more formal synonym, "concern".

serious apprehension

Emphasizes the feeling of dread or unease about a future event.

deep anxiety

Highlights the emotional distress associated with the worry.

major preoccupation

Focuses on the extent to which something dominates one's thoughts.

considerable unease

Suggests a more subtle but persistent feeling of discomfort.

significant disquiet

Implies a disturbance of peace and tranquility.

substantial fear

Emphasizes the element of fear associated with the concern.

intense trepidation

Conveys a strong sense of nervousness or dread.

grave misgivings

Indicates serious doubts or reservations about something.

profound disquietude

Expresses a state of deep anxiety and restlessness.

FAQs

How can I use "great worry" in a sentence?

You can use "great worry" to express significant concern about something, for example, "The rising cost of living is a "great worry" for many families."

What can I say instead of "great worry"?

You can use alternatives like "great concern", "serious apprehension", or "deep anxiety" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "great worry"?

It is appropriate to use "great worry" in formal writing or when expressing a significant level of concern or anxiety, particularly about issues with potentially serious consequences.

What's the difference between "great worry" and "minor concern"?

"Great worry" indicates a significant level of anxiety and concern, while "minor concern" suggests a less serious issue. The choice depends on the intensity of the feeling and the importance of the matter at hand.