have concerns that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have concerns that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing worries or apprehensions about a specific issue or situation. Example: "I have concerns that the project may not meet the deadline due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They have concerns that have been too readily dismissed; they will only come back to us when we have more to say to them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many of these artists seemed to have concerns that were heightened less by statistical spread of the disease than by the spread of fears about it.

The New York Times - Arts

The many who argue with the many others who believe this is really Shakespeare's first play have concerns that are substantive, not merely statistical.

The New York Times

Despite clients' apparent enthusiasm for DHTs, they have concerns that will need to be addressed, particularly in the context of mobile monitoring systems.

Alcohol research : current reviews

"People in Chinatown have concerns that gangs are coming back".

The New York Times

He said: "I did have concerns that my mail was being intercepted.

The Guardian - Business

"I have concerns that it not be a repeat of situations in Iraq".

The New York Times

"I do have concerns that there's a political focus on these out-of-state couples.

The New York Times

Santi added: "Definitely, people have concerns that we are doing this type of firearm".

The Guardian

"We have concerns that these celebrations that have traditionally been held not get out of hand," Manfred said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Even in the context of the art of budgeting," Ms. Alexander said dryly, "we have concerns that this is overoptimistic".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context. While suitable for formal writing, a simpler phrase like "worry that" may be more appropriate in informal settings.

Common error

While grammatically correct, consistently using "have concerns that" can sound overly formal. Vary your language with synonyms like "worry that" or "fear that" in less formal communications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have concerns that" functions as a declarative expression of worry or apprehension. It introduces a statement of concern, typically followed by a clause specifying the cause or object of that concern. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have concerns that" is a versatile phrase used to express worry or apprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and highly usable. It is particularly common in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts and it's deemed to have a neutral to professional register. For more casual settings or for stylistic variety, consider alternatives such as "worry that" or "fear that". When employing "have concerns that", be specific about the reason for the concern to avoid any ambiguity. This phrase offers a straightforward way to introduce doubts or anxieties in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worry that

Replaces "have concerns" with the simpler verb "worry", maintaining a direct expression of apprehension.

am worried that

Uses "am worried" for a more personal expression of concern, slightly altering the tone.

fear that

Employs "fear" to indicate a stronger sense of apprehension or dread.

apprehensive that

Introduces a more formal tone using "apprehensive", suggesting a thoughtful consideration of potential negative outcomes.

have reservations about

Indicates a more subtle form of concern, suggesting hesitation or unease.

doubt that

Shifts the focus to uncertainty or skepticism, rather than direct worry.

see potential issues with

Highlights the identification of possible problems, without necessarily expressing strong worry.

suspect that

Implies a belief based on limited evidence, suggesting a concern that something may be true.

foresee problems with

Focuses on anticipating difficulties, rather than expressing current worries.

hold the opinion that

Indicates a viewpoint or belief, but could be interpreted as lacking urgency.

FAQs

What's a simpler way to say "have concerns that"?

You can use simpler alternatives such as "worry that", "fear that", or "I'm concerned that" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "that" after "have concerns"?

While grammatically correct, the "that" can sometimes be omitted, especially in informal contexts. However, including "that" often improves clarity, particularly in complex sentences.

How can I express a strong concern using this phrase?

To emphasize the intensity of your concern, you can add adverbs like "serious", "grave", or "deep" before "concerns", such as "have serious concerns that".

What's the difference between "have concerns that" and "have reservations about"?

"Have concerns that" generally indicates a worry or fear about a specific outcome. "Have reservations about", on the other hand, suggests a more subtle hesitation or unease, often related to a plan or proposal.