legitimate cause for concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "legitimate cause for concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or issue that is validly worrying or troubling. Example: "The recent increase in cyber attacks on businesses presents a legitimate cause for concern among security experts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

But I think it is a legitimate cause for concern".

The New York Times

When most are also paying the minimum wage, it is a legitimate cause for concern.

The Guardian

Water experts concur, but say Pakistan does have a legitimate cause for concern.

The New York Times

Is it that much of a blow to Jeter's pride to admit that tying for the major league lead in outs, while playing a young man's position at age 36, is a legitimate cause for concern?

The New York Times - Sports

This doesn't mean that we should wave away concern about loneliness in old age, any more than we could justify inaction about homelessness or rape by pointing out that most people aren't homeless or raped: enough are for it to be a legitimate cause for concern.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is impossible to know if the recent increase in violent crime in the city is legitimate cause for concern that the "bad old days" of crime may return, or if it simply represents a blip in a trend line continuing a descent of nearly two decades.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

There is an element here of shooting the messenger, but there are legitimate causes for concern about the agencies and the quality of their assessments.

The Guardian - Business

However, it is our task to adjudicate upon the application and fairness of procedures adopted by public authorities when legitimate causes for concern arise, as they plainly did in this case.

The Guardian

That said, I'm also sure there will be legitimate causes for concern with the feature — but mainly because people aren't using Facebook the "right" way.

TechCrunch

He said there was legitimate cause for the concern about the researchers' techniques falling into the wrong hands.

The New York Times - Health

It surely is cause for reflection, the need for urgent waking up to the possible continued existence of terrorist activity here in the so-called "homeland" of America, and legitimate cause for great concern.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "legitimate cause for concern", ensure that you can clearly articulate the reasons behind the concern to establish its validity.

Common error

Avoid using "legitimate cause for concern" when the issue is trivial or based on speculation. Ensure there's a factual basis for the concern.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "legitimate cause for concern" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a valid reason for worry or anxiety. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. It acts as a subject complement or object of a preposition, highlighting the basis for concern in a given situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "legitimate cause for concern" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase used to express that a worry or apprehension is valid and justified. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Science, making it suitable for professional contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the concern is backed by credible evidence and that it's not being overstated. Consider alternatives like "valid reason to worry" or "justifiable reason for alarm" to add nuance to your writing. Be mindful to not use it in the context of trivial matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

valid reason to worry

Replaces "cause for concern" with "reason to worry" while maintaining the sense of validity.

justifiable reason for alarm

Substitutes "cause for concern" with "reason for alarm" adding a sense of urgency and justification.

well-founded cause for anxiety

Replaces "legitimate" with "well-founded" and "concern" with "anxiety", emphasizing the basis for worry.

genuine cause for apprehension

Uses "genuine" instead of "legitimate" and replaces "concern" with "apprehension", highlighting authenticity and unease.

reasonable basis for worry

Emphasizes the rational foundation for concern by using "reasonable basis".

warranted reason for unease

Replaces "legitimate cause" with "warranted reason" and "concern" with "unease", focusing on justification and discomfort.

ample justification for worry

Replaces "legitimate cause" with "ample justification" highlighting that there are more than enough reasons to be worried.

serious grounds for apprehension

Focuses on the severity of the concern by using "serious grounds" and "apprehension".

real grounds for disquiet

Uses "real" instead of "legitimate" and replaces "concern" with "disquiet", highlighting authenticity and worry.

substantial basis for alarm

Emphasizes the significant foundation for concern by using "substantial basis" and "alarm".

FAQs

How can I effectively use "legitimate cause for concern" in a sentence?

Use "legitimate cause for concern" to highlight a situation where worry or anxiety is justified. For example, "The increasing number of security breaches is a "legitimate cause for concern" among businesses".

What's a good alternative to saying "legitimate cause for concern"?

You could use phrases like "valid reason to worry", "justifiable reason for alarm", or "genuine cause for apprehension" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "legitimate cause for concern" and "legitimate reason for concern"?

While the two phrases are very similar, "legitimate cause for concern" emphasizes the source or origin of the worry, while "legitimate reason for concern" focuses more on the rationale behind the worry. The difference is subtle and they are often interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "legitimate cause for concern"?

It's appropriate when discussing issues that are demonstrably worrying and based on credible evidence or reasonable assumptions. Avoid using it for minor issues or speculative fears.