leading concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leading concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a primary issue or matter of importance in a discussion or context. Example: "The leading concern among the stakeholders is the environmental impact of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

7. (S) Vulnerability to maritime threats is a second leading concern.

The Guardian

In September, the government restored billions of dollars in funding to the national health system, a leading concern of Canadians.

The New York Times

Ahead of the WEF's annual meeting in Davos next week, the organisation's Global Risks 2015 report found that geo-politics has replaced income inequality as the leading concern.

The Guardian - Business

A leading concern was said to be a requirement that the merged company would open its cable television systems to other companies that want to offer high-speed Internet services.

The New York Times

A leading concern among local residents is that the Bin Laden Group has earmarked large slum areas for demolition and they fear they may not receive proper compensation or a new place to live.

The Guardian

"By making young people become more work-ready through pre-employment training and internships, the Youth Jobs PaTH initiative targets a leading concern of business around employability and backs these measures with accelerated and simpler wage subsidies," he said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The conversation Tomas is leading concerns the new EU Tobacco Products Directive, which will come into force in May 2016.

The Guardian

Polls consistently show, for instance, that immigration does not rank high among Hispanics' leading concerns.

The New York Times

One of Blankenhorn's leading concerns is with the well-being of children.

The New Yorker

As Tacon highlighted some of her leading concerns about the practices at Tesco, MSP Mike Russell said such schemes were new to him.

The Guardian - Business

The fear of addiction has been cited as one of the leading concerns by the government in its hesitance to drastically increase access to legal morphine.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leading concern", ensure that the context clearly establishes whose concern you are referring to, such as "the residents' leading concern" or "the company's leading concern".

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "a leading concern" without specifying who holds that concern. Always clarify the subject to provide context and prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leading concern" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies something that is the foremost worry or issue. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically sound and correctly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leading concern" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to denote the foremost worry or issue in a given situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable term across various writing styles. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral to professional register. For clarity, it's best practice to specify whose concern is being discussed. Alternative phrases such as "primary worry" or "main preoccupation" can be used to add variety to your writing. Remember, specificity enhances the impact of your message when addressing the "leading concern".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry" and "leading" with "primary", indicating the most important issue.

main preoccupation

Substitutes "concern" with "preoccupation" and "leading" with "main", suggesting a dominating thought.

principal anxiety

Replaces "concern" with "anxiety" and "leading" with "principal", highlighting the main cause of worry.

topmost priority

Uses "priority" instead of "concern" and "topmost" instead of "leading", focusing on what comes first.

chief consideration

Employs "consideration" for "concern" and "chief" for "leading", stressing the main factor to think about.

major source of worry

Expands on the phrase to explicitly state a "source of worry" instead of a single "concern".

paramount issue

Substitutes "concern" with "issue" and "leading" with "paramount", indicating a critical problem.

foremost apprehension

Replaces "concern" with "apprehension" and "leading" with "foremost", emphasizing the biggest fear.

central problem

Uses "problem" instead of "concern" and "central" instead of "leading", focusing on the core difficulty.

dominant fear

Replaces "concern" with "fear" and "leading" with "dominant", indicating the most prominent anxiety.

FAQs

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

You can use "leading concern" to describe a primary issue or worry. For example: "The "leading concern" among parents is school safety."

What are some alternatives to "leading concern"?

Alternatives include "primary worry", "main preoccupation", or "topmost priority", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "leading concern"?

Yes, "leading concern" is grammatically correct and widely used in formal and informal writing to denote a major issue.

What's the difference between "leading concern" and "major concern"?

"Leading concern" and "major concern" are very similar. "Leading concern" often implies it's the most important or the first one to be addressed, while "major concern" simply indicates significant importance.