major apprehension

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "major apprehension" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express significant concern or anxiety about a particular issue or situation. Example: "There is major apprehension among the staff regarding the upcoming changes in management."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The undetermined extent of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) binder mobilisation is a major apprehension in the design and construction of bituminous mixtures with RAP.

Construction and Building Materials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

While there's no chapter in Justice Breyer's book called "Legitimacy: Why I'm Worried," The New Yorker's Jeffrey Toobin points to the judicial activism of Chief Justice John Roberts and the conservative majority as a major source of apprehension for Justice Breyer.

The New York Times

The major source of apprehension among some of Reagan's advisers is the economy.

The New Yorker

Television played a major role in the apprehensions.

The New York Times

Reducing anxiety and apprehension among students (both majors and non-majors) enrolled in introductory science courses and encouraging their interest in evolutionary biology, geology, and more science-related courses and curricula constitutes a challenging field of study that remains to be investigated with more research in collaborative teaching approaches.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

In the context of the 21st century global politics -- as the Chinese renaissance affirms itself as the world's major factor of change -- the apprehension it generates around China and beyond, in the West, has to be defeated before it induces the follies of confrontation.

Huffington Post

In New Jersey, where a succession of political corruption scandals has bred deep suspicion of elected officials, that apprehension is one of the major obstacles facing the McGreevey administration's proposal.

The New York Times

That apprehension is likely to be a major concern for high profile start-ups, like Zynga and Facebook, both of which are expected to go public in the coming months.

The New York Times

A major theme in the students' evaluation dealt with their apprehension and anxiety prior to the video taped consultations and feedback group discussion.

BMC Medical Education

The Boeing system, along with the surge in Border Patrol agents, has resulted in a major drop in attempted illegal crossings, he said, with apprehensions dropping 80 percent since their peak in 2000, considered a sign of a drop in overall traffic.

The New York Times

Their apprehension, that higher class clients (a source of major income to them) may dislike visiting their facility alongside CY patients, discouraged their participation in the scheme.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "major apprehension", ensure the context clearly establishes the cause of the concern to enhance clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "major apprehension" for minor concerns; reserve it for situations where the worry is genuinely substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major apprehension" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "major" intensifies the noun "apprehension". It describes a state of significant worry or anxiety, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples which include contexts involving political risks and economic concerns.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Reference

7%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "major apprehension" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to denote a significant level of worry or anxiety. Ludwig AI confirms this. While not as frequently used as simpler alternatives like "significant concern", it appears across various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. It's important to reserve this phrase for genuinely substantial worries to avoid overstatement. Alternatives include "significant concern", "serious anxiety", and "deep worry", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deep concern

Simple substitution of "major" for "deep" to describe the level of concern.

significant concern

Replaces "apprehension" with a more general term for worry or unease.

strong anxiety

Emphasizes the strength of the anxiety felt.

serious anxiety

Emphasizes the intensity of the worry, using a different but similar term.

intense worry

Focuses on the intensity of the worry, using an alternative adjective.

substantial worry

Focuses on the worrying aspect, employing a different adjective.

considerable unease

Highlights the feeling of being unsettled or uncomfortable.

profound disquiet

Uses more formal language to express a deep sense of anxiety.

grave misgivings

Suggests serious doubts or reservations about something.

significant misgiving

Similar to "grave misgivings", but slightly less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "major apprehension" in a sentence?

You can use "major apprehension" to express a significant feeling of worry or anxiety, such as, "There is major apprehension about the company's future after the recent market crash."

What's a good alternative to "major apprehension"?

Alternatives to "major apprehension" include "significant concern", "serious anxiety", or "deep worry", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "major apprehension"?

While grammatically correct, using "major apprehension" might be an overstatement if the level of concern is actually quite mild. Choose a phrase that accurately reflects the intensity of the feeling.

What distinguishes "major apprehension" from "slight apprehension"?

"Major apprehension" indicates a strong feeling of worry, whereas "slight apprehension" suggests a mild or minimal concern. The adjective determines the gravity of the emotion.