it was concerns

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was concerns" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be an attempt to express that there were concerns about something, but it lacks proper grammatical structure. Example: "It was concerns about the project's feasibility that led to its cancellation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Many scrappy returns The Becks effect What goes around The trouble with Newt ReprintsIn the end, it was concerns about the aquifer that gave the State Department its out.

The Economist

It was concerns over this trajectory that launched 92-year-old Elsie Dean into action.

The Guardian

It was concerns about how regressive the switch to a flat tax would be that caused Mr Forbes's campaigns to founder.

The Economist

It was concerns about ring-fencing of liabilities, particularly in the United States, that held up Andersen's talks with other rivals, Ernst & Young and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

The Economist

He is also right to say it was concerns about the impact of migration, rather than the numbers themselves, that drove the leave victory in the EU referendum.

The Guardian

It was concerns like these that prompted me to board a small propeller plane and fly from the western coast of Norway over the steely blue North Sea to the Shetland Islands.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 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 indicating worry or unease, ensure the correct grammatical structure by using "there were concerns" or "it was a concern" depending on the intended meaning and context.

Common error

Avoid using "it was concerns" as it is grammatically incorrect. Always pair "it was" with a singular noun or noun phrase such as "it was a concern" or "it was worrying".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was concerns" functions as an attempt to identify the reason or cause of a situation, though Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect. Examples from Ludwig show the intended meaning is to express worry or apprehension.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it was concerns" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. A more accurate way to convey the intended meaning is by using alternatives such as "there were concerns" or "it was a concern". When writing, always prioritize grammatical correctness to ensure clarity and credibility. While mostly used in News & Media, replacing the phrase with a more appropriate alternative will be best for all writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were concerns

Replaces the ungrammatical "it was concerns" with the correct plural form of the verb "to be".

the reason for concern was

Clearly states the cause of the concern, providing a more formal and direct explanation.

concern arose because

Emphasizes the emergence of concern due to a specific cause, slightly altering the focus.

concerns were expressed regarding

Focuses on the act of expressing concern rather than the concern itself, adding formality.

they had concerns about

Shifts the sentence to focus on the subject having concerns.

factors causing concern included

Lists multiple factors that contributed to the overall concern, adding specificity.

the worry stemmed from

Indicates that the concern originated from a particular source or event.

that prompted unease

Highlights the feeling of unease that resulted from a situation or event.

it caused apprehension

Replaces "concerns" with "apprehension", indicating a feeling of anxiety or fear.

that generated anxiety

Indicates that a specific thing or event created anxiety.

FAQs

How can I correctly express that something caused worry?

Instead of "it was concerns", use phrases like "there were concerns", or "it was a concern" to maintain proper grammar.

What's a more formal way to say something prompted worry?

For a more formal tone, consider "the reason for concern was", which provides a clear and direct explanation.

Is "it was concerns" grammatically correct?

No, "it was concerns" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing would be "there were concerns" or "it was a concern".

What are some alternatives to "it was concerns" that emphasize the subject's feelings?

You can use "they had concerns about" to shift the focus to the subject's feelings of worry.