is highly concerning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is highly concerning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong sense of worry or alarm about a particular issue or situation. Example: "The recent increase in pollution levels in the city is highly concerning for the health of its residents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"Obviously it is highly concerning and Cricket Australia has acted immediately," a team spokesman said yesterday.

The Guardian - Sport

"The fact that these older people are seeking financial advice from non-finance professionals, leaving their already stretched finances open to further risk, is highly concerning".

Independent

"The growth of the new breed of motoring offences, like drug-driving and social networking behind the wheel, is highly concerning".

BBC

Jha said he agreed with WHO's decision, but said the spread of Ebola to an urban area is highly concerning.

Huffington Post

The high proportion of K. pneumoniae resistant to third generation cephalosporin is highly concerning, particularly since all these infections were acquired after two days in hospital, and therefore probably hospital-acquired.

Plosone

The fact that none of the radiological reviewers including the responsible physicist considered the quality sufficient is highly concerning, as is the described lack of technologist and reader training and the high rate of interval cancers.

European Radiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Note Survey participants were asked on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 is "not at all concerned" and 5 is "highly concerned," how concerned they are about the possible impacts of climate change.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

He is highly concerned with the problems of ecology.

The New Yorker

China's quality watchdog says it is "highly concerned" about the cheat device in VW's diesel cars.

The Guardian - Business

It is clearly someone who is highly concerned with their peers' perception of them, who is worried they are not doing this "growing up" thing quite right.

The Guardian - Opinion

China's quality watchdog has said it is "highly concerned" about the device in Volkswagen's diesel cars designed to trick emissions tests.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is highly concerning", ensure the context clearly identifies what specific aspect is causing the concern, providing clarity and impact.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "is highly concerning" in casual conversation or informal writing can sound overly formal or dramatic. Consider using simpler phrases like "I'm worried about this" or "This is a problem" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is highly concerning" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It modifies a subject by attributing to it the quality of being worrisome or alarming. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is highly concerning" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to convey a significant level of worry or alarm. It functions as a predicative adjective phrase, modifying a subject with the quality of being worrisome. While versatile, it's most commonly found in neutral registers like news reports and scientific articles, but can sound overly formal in informal conversations. Alternatives such as "is deeply troubling" or "raises serious concerns" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is deeply troubling

Replaces "highly concerning" with a different adjective to convey a similar level of worry.

is a major worry

Substitutes the adjective with a noun phrase, emphasizing the level of concern.

raises serious concerns

Shifts the focus to the act of raising concerns, rather than stating the level of concern directly.

is cause for alarm

Uses a more urgent tone, suggesting that the situation warrants immediate attention.

is profoundly disturbing

Employs a stronger adjective to indicate a deeper level of unease.

is a significant issue of concern

Adds more detail, specifying that the issue is not only a concern but also significant.

is a serious cause for concern

Similar to "is cause for alarm" but slightly less urgent.

is greatly alarming

Replaces "concerning" with "alarming", implying a more immediate sense of danger.

is a worrisome trend

Identifies the subject as a trend, framing the concern within a pattern of events.

is hardly reassuring

Expresses concern by stating the opposite of reassurance.

FAQs

How can I use "is highly concerning" in a sentence?

You can use "is highly concerning" to express a strong sense of worry or alarm about a particular situation. For example, "The spread of misinformation online "is highly concerning"."

What are some alternatives to "is highly concerning"?

You can use alternatives like "is deeply troubling", "raises serious concerns", or "is profoundly disturbing" to express similar sentiments.

Is "is highly concerning" too formal for everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "is highly concerning" can sound overly formal in casual settings. Simpler phrases like "I'm really worried" or "This is a big problem" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "is concerning" and "is highly concerning"?

"Is concerning" expresses a general level of worry, while ""is highly concerning"" indicates a much stronger sense of alarm or unease.