hold concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold concern" is not a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use the phrase "raise concerns" as a substitute. For example, "The company's lack of progress raised concerns among investors."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We hold concerns that this increase is too high against the backdrop of softening labour market conditions and an economy undergoing structural adjustment," Acci's director of employment, Jenny Lambert, said.

The Guardian

Those social problems are characterized in the oppositional relationship that has formed between athletic and academic achievement, and the high aspirations and expectations that African-American student athletes hold concerning professional sports.

Race and Society

This approach has been christened "pyrotheology," and aims at burning up the basic assumptions that both critics and advocates of religion hold concerning the life of faith.

Huffington Post

To be sure, nearly all parents, regardless of race, class or family structure, identify with the internal struggle between the hopes and fears we hold concerning our children and their place in society.

Huffington Post

Inadequacies of time allocated to quality at the Board meeting hold concerning implications for quality.

BMJ Open

Overall, participants were very supportive of data linkage research but did hold concerns regarding the linkage of certain kinds of data, especially data related to employment.

BMC Medical Ethics

20 23 24 While retailers reportedly hold concerns about the ease of stock management and heightened security problems, these concerns are not based on objective evidence of burglaries, robberies or theft, but on speculation.

BMJ Open

UK GPs are generally positive about breast screening, for example, although hold concerns relating to pain and discomfort caused by testing, false reassurance derived from results, and problems caused by false positive results [ 11].

BMC Family Practice

The bride's father is the president and chief executive of the AVR Realty Company, a real estate development and holding concern in Yonkers.

The New York Times

Mr. Wallace is reinventing Cable and Wireless from a telecommunications holding concern with a scattering of interests around the world into a leaner telecommunications business focused on serving the business market, not the more visible but less profitable consumer market.

The New York Times

"At this time [REDACTED] was extremely aggressive and non-compliant and due to this and [his] history of self-harm as well as the heavy vehicle movement in the immediate vicinity, the responding CSOs held concern for [his] safety".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "hold concern". Instead, opt for more grammatically sound and widely accepted alternatives such as "raise concerns", "express concern", or "have concerns".

Common error

The verb "hold" typically requires a more concrete noun as its object. With abstract nouns like "concern", it's better to use verbs like "raise", "express", or "have" to convey a more natural and grammatically correct meaning. Therefore, avoid saying "hold concern" and instead use phrases like "raise concerns".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold concern" attempts to function as a verb phrase where "hold" acts as the main verb expressing possession or maintenance of the noun "concern". However, this construction is grammatically unusual and not considered standard English. Ludwig AI highlights this issue.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hold concern" is not grammatically correct and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is preferable to use alternatives such as "raise concerns", "express concern", or "have concerns". These alternatives are more widely accepted and ensure clear communication of your intended meaning. Remember that effective writing relies on grammatical accuracy and clarity, so choosing the right phrase is essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raise concerns

Replaces "hold" with "raise", indicating the expression of concerns.

express concern

Replaces "hold" with "express", emphasizing the vocalization of concerns.

voice concerns

Similar to "express concern", but implies a more direct or public sharing of concerns.

harbor concerns

Replaces "hold" with "harbor", suggesting the private or internal existence of concerns.

have reservations

Uses "reservations" to replace "concern", indicating doubts or hesitations.

feel apprehension

Focuses on the emotional aspect of concern, using "apprehension" as a synonym.

be worried about

Directly states a state of worry related to a specific topic.

consider misgivings

Implies reflecting upon feelings of doubt and anxiety regarding the matter

register apprehension

Suggests a formal recording or recognition of worry regarding the situation

sustain trepidation

Conveys a feeling of alarm and dread sustained over a period about something that might happen

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "hold concern"?

While "hold concern" is not considered standard English, you can use alternatives like "raise concerns", "express concern", or "have concerns" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to use the phrase "hold concern"?

No, the phrase "hold concern" is not grammatically correct. It's more appropriate to say "raise concerns", "have concerns", or "express concern".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "hold concern"?

It is generally not appropriate to use the phrase "hold concern" in formal or professional writing. Opt for more standard and grammatically sound alternatives like "raise concerns".

What is the difference between "hold concern" and "have concerns"?

"Hold concern" is not a standard English phrase and is considered grammatically incorrect. "Have concerns", on the other hand, is a common and accepted way to express that one has worries or doubts about something.