highest concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highest concern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something of the utmost importance. For example, "Environmental protection is of the highest concern for the government."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In South Korea, cyber-attacks were the second highest concern (55%) after Isis (75%).

The Guardian

The countries with the highest concern have generally adopted precautionary policies.

The Guardian

But several laws have been passed in recent years in the areas of highest concern to voters.

The New York Times

That same Blue Book report found that China's urban residents ranked unemployment as their second highest concern, after social security.

The New York Times

In 19 of the 40 countries polled, climate change was found to be the issue of highest concern.

The Guardian

Although these seem more appropriate to the functionality of VTOLs, safety would be of the highest concern for consumer adoption.

Nature

Twenty miles out, roughly the area of highest concern identified by Japanese authorities, includes almost a million people.

The New York Times

It is now ranking at the fourth highest concern at 27%, 12 percentage points up from December 2012.

The Economist

Glaser says that these reactors, even though they use materials of the highest concern, are much less secure than commercial reactors.

Princeton University

Mr. Bush has expressed sympathy with Israel's plight and made clear that its security and well-being are of the highest concern.

The New York Times

As for Russia's behavior towards its neighbors, the highest concern is felt by the Poles (71percentt) followed by Britain with 69percentt and Germany with 68.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highest concern" to clearly and directly communicate the issue that demands the most immediate attention or action.

Common error

While "highest concern" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing it in very informal settings. Simpler phrases like "biggest worry" or "main issue" may be more appropriate for casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highest concern" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used after a preposition such as 'of' or 'for'. It identifies and emphasizes the issue or area that is most important or worrisome in a given context. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highest concern" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote something of utmost importance or worry. According to Ludwig, its correctness is confirmed and widely applicable. It's commonly found in news, scientific, and academic contexts, making it suitable for formal and neutral communications. While perfectly valid, consider if simpler alternatives may be more appropriate in casual speech. Keep in mind that this expression serves to highlight a focal point of worry or a matter that demands attention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utmost importance

Focuses on the level of importance rather than the worry or apprehension.

top priority

Highlights the prioritization aspect, suggesting it's the first thing to address.

foremost consideration

Emphasizes the need to carefully think about something.

primary focus

Emphasizes where attention is primarily directed.

chief worry

Directly addresses the worry or anxiety component.

paramount significance

Stresses the outstanding importance of something.

main preoccupation

Highlights a state of being constantly thinking about something.

greatest anxiety

Directly refers to the feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease.

major apprehension

Highlights a feeling of anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.

principal issue

Focuses on the problem or matter that needs to be dealt with.

FAQs

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

You can use "highest concern" to emphasize what is most important or worrying. For example, "Data privacy is of the highest concern for our customers" or "The environmental impact of the project is our highest concern".

What is a good alternative to "highest concern"?

Alternatives to "highest concern" include "utmost importance", "top priority", or "primary focus", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "highest concern" in professional writing?

While "highest concern" is generally appropriate, consider your audience and the overall tone. In some cases, a more direct or simpler phrase might be preferable for clarity and impact.

Which is correct: "of highest concern" or "the highest concern"?

Both "of highest concern" and "the highest concern" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different usages. "Of highest concern" emphasizes that something is very important, while "the highest concern" implies it is the single most important thing.