it was concerning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was concerning" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing worry or unease about a situation or event. Example: "After reviewing the report, I realized that it was concerning how many safety violations were noted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

David Cameron said on Monday it was "concerning" that the BBC effectively changed its story about why it dropped the Newsnight report on Savile.

The Guardian

The situation was as chaotic as it was concerning.

The Guardian - Sport

It was concerning, he said, if working-class people could not afford to study acting.

The Guardian - Film

Quite clearly we didn't want to be in that position and it was concerning a month ago.

The Guardian - Sport

It was concerning how shallow the drilling was – there's not much of a buffer to where people draw their water.

The Guardian

I was at Twickenham on Friday to see the win over Fiji and it was concerning how lateral England were.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

It was concerned with decision making and consequential decision making.

Journal of Organization Design

It was concerned with a basic truth.

HuffPost

"It is significant, it is concerning.

Independent

It's concerning a lot of us".

The New York Times

"Of course it's concerning," he said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was concerning", ensure the context clearly indicates what specifically is causing concern. Be precise to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While acceptable, repeatedly using "it was concerning" can make writing sound monotonous. Vary your language with synonyms like "alarming", "troubling", or "worrying" for a more engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was concerning" functions as a subjective assessment expressing a feeling of worry or unease about a specific situation or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the usage aligns with standard grammatical rules. The phrase predicates a state of concern.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was concerning" is a versatile phrase used to express worry or unease, as supported by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically sound and frequently found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While widely accepted, writers should vary their language to avoid monotony, using alternatives like "alarming", "troubling", or "worrying". To ensure clarity, always specify what caused the concern. The phrase is a subjective assessment expressing worry or unease, it is generally neutral and it communicates writer's apprehension about a particular matter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was worrying

A more direct synonym, simply replacing "concerning" with "worrying".

it raised concerns

Focuses on the action of raising concerns rather than a state of being concerning.

it caused worry

Emphasizes the act of causing worry, shifting the focus from the characteristic of being concerning to its effect.

it prompted unease

Highlights the feeling of unease that resulted from the situation.

it gave rise to apprehension

More formal, emphasizing the development of apprehension.

it was alarming

Indicates a higher degree of urgency and potential danger than "concerning".

it was troubling

Focuses on the disturbing nature of the situation.

it was disquieting

Highlights the unsettling nature of the situation.

it signaled a problem

Shifts the focus to the indication of an issue, rather than the feeling of concern itself.

it suggested a difficulty

Similar to "signaled a problem", but slightly milder in tone.

FAQs

How can I use "it was concerning" in a sentence?

Use "it was concerning" to express worry or unease about a specific situation. For example, "it was concerning how few students attended the lecture."

What are some alternatives to "it was concerning"?

You can use alternatives like "it was alarming", "it was troubling", or "it was worrying" depending on the context.

Is "it is concerning" or "it was concerning" more appropriate?

The choice depends on the time frame. "It is concerning" describes a present worry, while "it was concerning" refers to a past concern.

What's the difference between "it was concerning" and "it was worrisome"?

Both phrases express worry, but "it was worrisome" might suggest a slightly more significant or persistent level of concern than "it was concerning".