it was concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was concern" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express a feeling or state of worry, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "It was concern for her safety that drove him to act."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

At first it was concern over the 1989 riots in Tiananmen Square that stopped him.

The New York Times

It was concern about losing audience during a renovation that helped fuel the orchestra's interest in moving to Carnegie Hall.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. McFaul also expressed regret over abuse cases, and said it was concern over such cases that led to the new agreement earlier this year.

The New York Times

It was concern about such criticisms of Israel that persuaded the Bush administration not to send Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to the conference.

The New York Times

It was concern about the Ukip's capacity to erode the Conservatives' political base that pushed David Cameron to commit to a referendum on the country's continued EU membership.

The Guardian - Business

It was concern that countries would flock to English law that led to the United States government warning that New York's status as a world financial center could be damaged.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The situation was as chaotic as it was concerning.

The Guardian - Sport

Partly, too, it was concerned for party unity.

The Economist

But at the same time, it was concerned with cost.

The New York Times

The Dakota said it was concerned about his finances.

The New York Times

It was concerned with what a detail could be.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing concern, use the grammatically correct form, such as "it was a concern" or "it was caused by concern". This will ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "it was concern" directly. Instead, rephrase to use a proper noun or adjective form of "concern", like "it was a matter of concern" or "it was concerning".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was concern" functions as an attempt to express a reason or cause related to a feeling of worry or anxiety. Ludwig AI analysis indicates this is not standard English. Correct alternatives use "concern" as a noun, such as "it was a concern."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it was concern" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. To convey the intended meaning, it's best to use alternatives such as "it was a concern", "it was caused by concern", or rephrase to emphasize worry or anxiety as the motivator. Using correct grammatical structures will improve clarity and ensure effective communication across different writing contexts. Consider sources and their weight when evaluating if the usage is correct or not.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it stemmed from concern

Replaces the simple statement with a more descriptive and grammatically sound phrase indicating origin of worry.

it arose from concern

Similar to 'stemmed from', this expresses the origin of something from a state of worry or anxiety.

it originated from concern

Emphasizes the initial point or cause being the feeling of worry.

it was born out of concern

Suggests the worry was a catalyst for a specific action or decision.

concern prompted it

Changes the structure to emphasize worry as the driving force.

worry motivated it

Highlights the feeling of worry as the key motivator.

anxiety spurred it

Similar to 'motivated', using 'spurred' indicates a prompt and direct cause.

out of worry

A shorter version indicating the motivation for something comes from a place of anxiety.

driven by worry

Highlights the worry as the force behind an action.

due to anxiety

Specifies anxiety as the reason or cause for an action or situation.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct way to express the idea behind "it was concern"?

You can use phrases like "it was a matter of concern", "it was concerning", or "it was caused by concern" to express the idea in a grammatically sound manner.

What's the difference between "it was concern" and "it was a concern"?

The phrase "it was concern" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "it was a concern", where "concern" acts as a noun.

Can I use "it was concern" in formal writing?

No, "it was concern" is not suitable for formal writing. Use grammatically correct alternatives such as "it was a concern" or "concern prompted it".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "it was concern", but grammatically correct?

Alternatives include "it stemmed from concern", "it arose from concern", or "worry motivated it".