ground for concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ground for concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that there are valid reasons to be worried or anxious about a situation. Example: "The recent increase in crime rates has provided ground for concern among local residents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Provisionally there is a lot of ground for concern about her," Holman said.

The Guardian

If the "toughest" grader in that group awarded the grade of A to two-thirds of his or her students, I think there is obvious ground for concern.

Princeton University

The agency began investigating earlier this year and concluded that it had ground for concern, so it intensified the investigation by starting an engineering analysis.

The New York Times

The Senior District Judge found the application of special administrative measures to be the greatest ground for concern but concluded that, having regard to the safeguards accompanying such measures, there would be no breach of the applicant's Convention rights.

Yale University

Consumer demand is growing strongly, at 6-7%, but this is not worrying in the Slovak context; crucially, it is lower than the headline GDP growth rate.For as long as Slovakia continues to have its economic growth driven by investment and industrial expansion (mainly with an eye on foreign markets), there is little ground for concern.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But there are grounds for concern.

The Economist

But there are still grounds for concern.

The Economist

That ought to be grounds for concern.

The Economist

There are good grounds for concern.

The Guardian

But there are some grounds for concern in politics.

The Economist

"There are no grounds for concern," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ground for concern" when you want to express that there is a specific reason to be worried about a situation. Ensure that the reason is clear and justifiable.

Common error

Avoid using "ground for concern" when the situation warrants a stronger phrase like "cause for alarm" or "reason for panic". "Ground for concern" suggests a moderate level of worry that merits attention but isn't immediately critical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ground for concern" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a reason or justification for feeling worried or apprehensive. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English. The examples show its use in various contexts, indicating situations that warrant attention.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ground for concern" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to indicate that there are valid reasons to be worried about a particular situation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is primarily found in news and academic contexts and serves to highlight potential problems or risks. While phrases like "reason to worry" and "cause for concern" can be used as alternatives, "ground for concern" offers a nuanced way to express that the situation merits attention without necessarily implying immediate crisis. Therefore, it's important to consider the urgency and specific reasons when employing the phrase in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reason to worry

A more direct and common way to express concern.

basis for unease

Highlights a feeling of discomfort or anxiety.

justification for worry

Suggests a rational basis for concern.

reason for apprehension

Focuses on the feeling of apprehension rather than the cause.

warrant for concern

Emphasizes the legitimacy or necessity of the concern.

source of anxiety

Emphasizes the origin of the anxiety.

cause for alarm

Implies a higher degree of worry or urgency.

justification for disquiet

Points to the reasons that explain a general feeling of worry.

impetus for concern

Focuses on what drives the concern.

occasion for disquiet

Points to an event or situation causing worry.

FAQs

How can I use "ground for concern" in a sentence?

You can use "ground for concern" to indicate that there is a valid reason to be worried about something. For instance, "The company's declining profits are "ground for concern" among investors."

What's the difference between "ground for concern" and "cause for concern"?

While "ground for concern" and "cause for concern" are similar, "cause for concern" may imply a slightly stronger or more immediate reason for worry. "Ground for concern" simply indicates that there is a valid reason to be concerned.

What are some alternatives to "ground for concern"?

Some alternatives to "ground for concern" include "reason to worry", "basis for unease", and "source of anxiety", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is it better to use "ground for concern" or "grounds for concern"?

Both "ground for concern" and "grounds for concern" are acceptable. "Ground" is used when referring to a general reason, while "grounds" is used when referring to multiple specific reasons.