keen concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"keen concern" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a strong interest in something, often out of worry or anxiety. For example, "The teacher showed a keen concern for the students' progress in math."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Prime Minister Fayyad has expressed keen concern over meeting his budget obligations in the coming months.

The New York Times

While it's an area of keen concern, it's as yet unknown what changes will take place in temperature and ocean current over the coming century.

The Guardian

Later this month, another round of hearings is scheduled for Japan, where the fate of Japanese citizens abducted and taken to North Korea decades ago remains a keen concern.

The New York Times

How could anyone want to blur the outlines of an unspeakable phenomenon whose precise definition has, in recent years, been of keen concern to liberal internationalists and humanitarian law buffs?

The Economist

But several areas of bilateral tension remained of keen concern, they added, including British criticism of Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts and "spillover" from the Nato-led war in Afghanistan.

The Guardian

GAZA -- The senior United Nations official for humanitarian relief took a tour of Gaza on Tuesday, a year after Israel's war here, and declared keen concern for what he called the collective punishment of 1.5 million Palestinians due to the blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

As with many painters, Mr. Schwontkowski's sense of what makes a painting work is keener concerning ones he didn't make than ones he did, but it is ultimately touching to see loyalties and debts so openly and astutely acknowledged.

The New York Times

It was a simple formula, made utterly addictive and engrossing because of keen strategic concerns: plant too few sunflowers and you couldn't afford to replace the plants as the zombies ate them.

Independent

Thus, even at his most conservative moments as a proponent of Socialist Realism, Lukács is motivated by a keen intuition concerning the tragic consequences of this aspect of modern culture and, as the constant revisions of his position show, by a sensitivity to the inappropriateness of all conceptions of the human condition which do not appropriately deal with this problem.

SEP

Keen to show concern for the complaints of the low-paid, but mindful of the potential for stoking unrest, last year the government set up a review of pay differentials in the public sector but farmed out the task to Will Hutton, boss of the Work Foundation, a think-tank.

The Economist

Wollstonecraft's oeuvre shows "a keen and vital concern with education, especially the education of girls and women".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keen concern" to denote a significant worry or interest in a specific issue, especially when conveying a sense of importance or urgency.

Common error

Avoid using "keen concern" in very casual conversations. Opt for simpler phrases like "very worried" or "highly interested" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keen concern" functions as a noun phrase that expresses a significant level of worry, interest, or apprehension about a particular issue or situation. Ludwig confirms its validity and appropriate usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keen concern" is a valid and usable English expression, typically denoting a significant level of worry or interest. Ludwig confirms this, providing numerous examples from reputable sources. Its neutral to formal register makes it suitable for news, reports, and professional contexts. While effective for emphasizing the importance of an issue, it should be used judiciously in casual settings. Alternatives like "acute worry" or "serious apprehension" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. In summary, "keen concern" is a valuable phrase for highlighting significant issues with a sense of importance or urgency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acute worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry" and "keen" with "acute", indicating a heightened level of anxiety.

deep anxiety

Substitutes "concern" with "anxiety" and "keen" with "deep", emphasizing the emotional distress.

serious apprehension

Replaces "concern" with "apprehension" and "keen" with "serious", suggesting a formal and grave outlook.

profound disquiet

Substitutes "concern" with "disquiet" and "keen" with "profound", indicating a deep-seated unease.

grave misgivings

Replaces "concern" with "misgivings" and "keen" with "grave", conveying strong doubts or reservations.

intense unease

Substitutes "concern" with "unease" and "keen" with "intense", emphasizing a strong feeling of discomfort.

marked solicitude

Replaces "concern" with "solicitude" and "keen" with "marked", suggesting a notable degree of care or concern.

significant attentiveness

Substitutes "concern" with "attentiveness" and "keen" with "significant", indicating a notable focus or attention.

earnest consideration

Replaces "concern" with "consideration" and "keen" with "earnest", suggesting a sincere and serious contemplation.

strong interest

Substitutes "concern" with "interest" and "keen" with "strong", indicating a notable level of curiosity and enthusiasm.

FAQs

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

You can use "keen concern" to express significant worry or interest about something. For example, "The community expressed "keen concern" over the proposed development."

What's a good alternative to "keen concern"?

Alternatives to "keen concern" include "acute worry", "deep anxiety", or "serious apprehension" depending on the specific context.

Is "keen concern" formal or informal?

"Keen concern" is generally considered a neutral to formal expression. It is appropriate for news articles, formal reports, and professional communications.

What kind of situations is "keen concern" best suited for?

"Keen concern" is best suited for situations where there is a genuine, noteworthy level of worry or interest, such as discussing environmental issues, political developments, or public health matters.