instrumental concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "instrumental concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a concern that plays a crucial role in achieving a particular outcome or goal. Example: "The instrumental concern for the project's success led the team to prioritize effective communication and collaboration."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Tommie Shelby tries to combat the ambivalence of Appiah and Blum through resources found within Martin Delany's Black nationalism, distinguishing classical black nationalism, which rested upon an organic black identity, with pragmatic black nationalism, based on an instrumental concern with combating anti-black racism (2005, 38 52; 2003, 666 668).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

More important, perhaps, than such instrumental concerns, the arts sustain the inner lives of the British nation's citizens in myriad intangible and unmeasurable ways.

The Guardian - Opinion

To illustrate this proposition further, socially tied individuals usually have more or less instrumental concerns.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Under some conditions, the cultural face will dominate, while in other contexts, the instrumental concerns prevail.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

World government proposals are justified in terms of both intrinsic and instrumental concerns.

SEP

Instead, we proceed to the second statement, that the instrumental concerns of complying with social relations can be (partially) substituted.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Second, if such instrumental concerns can somehow be taken care of through alternative ways, employees feel it is less necessary to secure their particularistic ties with the employers.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Sometimes the cultural constraints of guanxi may dominate while sometimes it only shows sheer instrumental concerns; what is worse, we hardly know the reason why this occurs.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

We propose several statements to construct our theoretical framework: The first statement argues that people comply with informal institutions partly due to the moral restrictions but more likely due to their instrumental concerns.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Both Eclipse and Dialectic are nuanced texts that present a number of themes, but if there is one overarching theme to the work from the 40s it is, as that German title suggests, the critical description of how reason collapses into irrationality through its emphasis on instrumental concerns.

SEP

Moreover, our collaboration in iGEM has shown that the constraints of expertise and resources represent a significant barrier to developing HP work that tries to go beyond instrumental concerns.

BioSocieties

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instrumental concern", ensure the context clearly establishes the goal or outcome that the concern is instrumental to. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "instrumental concern" when a simpler term like "important consideration" would suffice. Overusing sophisticated vocabulary can make your writing sound pretentious or unclear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instrumental concern" functions as a noun phrase where "instrumental" modifies "concern", indicating a concern that is crucial for achieving a specific goal. Ludwig AI shows examples in science and philosophical contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

21%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

7%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "instrumental concern" is a phrase used to highlight a specific concern that is crucial for achieving a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is grammatically correct but relatively rare, predominantly appearing in scientific and academic contexts. While alternatives like "key consideration" or "primary focus" exist, "instrumental concern" emphasizes the critical role the concern plays in attaining a specific goal. When employing this phrase, ensure the connection between the concern and its desired outcome is explicitly stated for clarity. While grammatically sound, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate in everyday conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

key consideration

Replaces "concern" with a more general term for something that needs to be taken into account. It is slightly broader in meaning.

primary focus

Emphasizes that the concern is the main point of attention or effort. Changes the noun, highlighting the focus aspect.

essential factor

Highlights the necessity of the concern. Replaces both words, stressing importance.

critical element

Stresses the importance of the concern as part of a larger whole. Changes both words, focusing on the component aspect.

vital aspect

Underscores the importance of the concern to the subject at hand. It's a more descriptive and general alternative.

significant issue

Highlights that the concern is important and needs to be addressed. It's slightly more problem-oriented.

practical consideration

Emphasizes the real-world implications of the concern. Changes the adjective, highlighting the practical aspect.

strategic priority

Positions the concern as something crucial for achieving a strategic goal. Changes both words, highlighting strategic importance.

imperative matter

Highlights the urgent or crucial nature of the concern. Stronger emphasis on the necessity.

chief preoccupation

Indicates that the concern is a dominant or all-consuming thought. This suggests a higher degree of focus than "concern" alone.

FAQs

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

You can use "instrumental concern" to highlight a particular worry or focus that is crucial for achieving a specific outcome. For instance, "The team's "instrumental concern" for efficiency led to significant cost savings".

What are some alternatives to "instrumental concern"?

Alternatives include "key consideration", "primary focus", or "essential factor". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "instrumental" mean in the phrase "instrumental concern"?

In this context, "instrumental" means serving as a crucial means or tool in achieving a particular purpose or result. The concern is not just a worry, but something actively used to obtain an outcome.

Is "instrumental concern" a common phrase in everyday English?

No, "instrumental concern" is not very common. It is more frequently found in formal or academic writing. Simpler phrases may be more suitable for general conversation.