lingering concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lingering concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a worry or apprehension that persists over time, often despite attempts to address it. Example: "Despite the reassurances from management, there remains a lingering concern about the project's feasibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

There was a lingering concern.

The Guardian - Opinion

And there is lingering concern within the president's party.

The New York Times

Just how effective Box will be is a lingering concern.

The New York Times - Sports

There is lingering concern that foreign management will be insensitive to social issues.

The Economist

"Our biggest lingering concern with the French Open remains the Sunday start," Gimelstob said.

The New York Times - Sports

One area of lingering concern is the role of Iran in fomenting attacks on Americans.

The New York Times

"The whole credit issue is going to be a lingering concern," Mr. McCain said.

The New York Times

A lingering concern at Boies Schiller is planning for succession once Mr. Boies decides to retire.

The New York Times

"It was enough of a lingering concern that at the end they said, 'Screw it.

The New Yorker

The condition of the ankle is a lingering concern to the Giants and to Kiwanuka.

The New York Times - Sports

Still, the Conference Board said it found lingering concern about jobs and wages.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lingering concern", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the concern pertains to. Providing specific details can enhance clarity and prevent ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "lingering concern" when the concern is new or short-lived. "Lingering" implies that the concern has persisted for some time. A fresh worry should be termed as an immediate or new concern, not a "lingering concern".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lingering concern" typically functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific worry or apprehension that persists over time. Ludwig examples showcase its common use in describing ongoing issues or doubts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Sports

12%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lingering concern" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a persistent worry or apprehension. Ludwig AI validates its widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as in sports and business. The phrase functions as a noun phrase, serving to highlight unresolved issues. When using "lingering concern", ensure that the context clearly states the specific worry being addressed and, importantly, that it is a concern that has persisted for some time and not a new worry. Alternatives such as "persisting worry" or "ongoing anxiety" can be used depending on the specific nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

persisting worry

Replaces "concern" with a more common synonym and "lingering" with a synonym indicating continuation.

lingering unease

Replaces "concern" with "unease", maintaining the sense of discomfort and worry.

remaining apprehension

Substitutes both "lingering" and "concern" with alternative terms that convey a similar sense of unease.

ongoing anxiety

Uses "anxiety" instead of "concern" to emphasize the emotional aspect and "ongoing" to indicate persistence.

unresolved worry

Focuses on the lack of resolution as the primary characteristic of the concern.

persisting doubt

Highlights the aspect of doubt that continues to exist.

unfading anxiety

Emphasizes the unchanging or constant nature of the anxiety.

continuing disquiet

Uses a more formal word, "disquiet", to replace "concern", while retaining the sense of unease.

unsettled feeling

Describes the concern as an emotional state that hasn't been resolved.

persisting misgiving

Employs "misgiving" as a substitute for "concern", suggesting a feeling of doubt or apprehension about something.

FAQs

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

You can use "lingering concern" to describe a worry that remains present. For example, "There is a lingering concern that the project will not be completed on time."

What are some alternatives to "lingering concern"?

Some alternatives include "persisting worry", "remaining apprehension", or "ongoing anxiety", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "lingering concern"?

While "concern" itself implies a degree of persistence, "lingering concern" emphasizes that the worry has not diminished or disappeared over time. It's not necessarily redundant if you want to highlight the enduring nature of the concern.

What's the difference between "lingering concern" and "passing concern"?

"Lingering concern" suggests a worry that persists, while "passing concern" implies a brief or temporary worry. The key difference is the duration and intensity of the worry.