merit concern

USAGE SUMMARY

'merit concern' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express that something is worth noting and worrying about, usually in the context of a problem or issue. For example: The state of the city's infrastructure merits concern, with many roads in need of repair.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I have concluded that the evidence seen and heard by the Inquiry is inconclusive, or insufficient, to find that bribery and corruption, blagging, theft and/or email hacking are cultural problems within the press today but there is sufficient arising out of what has been said and the present criminal investigation to merit concern.

The Guardian

Preliminary findings from studies of R-REM suggest that it is sufficiently widespread to merit concern, and is likely to have serious detrimental outcomes for residents.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

Some degree of soil disturbance across landscapes can be acceptable in creating regeneration niches for rare and functionally important pioneer species, but we also see losses in ecological integrity, such as the spread of invasive plants, that merit concern in managing these ecosystems.

Forest Ecology and Management

These privacy issues merit concern.

Huffington Post

A 2010 study by the Connecticut Department of Public Health detected potentially hazardous compounds at several artificial fields, but concluded the levels didn't merit concern.

Huffington Post

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed this species as Data Deficient due to lack of specific data, while noting that its vulnerability to fishing and habitat degradation may merit concern.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Different figures of merit concerning the morphology of the fillers were evaluated and correlated with the corresponding functional response of the composite.

Nanoscale Research Letters

U.S. health officials, seeking a careful balance in their warnings, questioned the recommendation, and President Barack Obama said the outbreak merited concern but was "not a cause for alarm".

The New York Times

Gary Carr, a senior vice president for TargetCast TCM, which buys ad time for companies, said that while the dip was "not cause for panic," it merited concern and careful monitoring.

The New York Times

Longtime residents of California, however, did not feel unduly spooked by their governor's proclamation, because states of emergency are comparatively common - they are basically a way to cut through red tape and free-up all of the available resources needed to tackle any situation that merits concern.

The Guardian - Travel

Much has been learned of the pleural inflation gradient from studies with humans and larger animals [ 38- 40], but to extend this knowledge to a smaller animal like the rat merits concern.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "merit concern", ensure the context clearly establishes what specific aspect warrants attention to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The declining test scores merit concern" is more effective than simply stating "The situation merits concern".

Common error

While "merit concern" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal writing. Vary your language by using alternatives such as "warrant attention" or "deserve consideration" to maintain reader engagement and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merit concern" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun. According to Ludwig, it indicates that something is worthy of attention and worry. It's used to highlight issues that should not be ignored and require careful consideration.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "merit concern" is a phrase used to convey that something warrants attention and potential worry. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and acceptability in written English. Predominantly found in science and news media, the expression carries a neutral to formal tone. When employing "merit concern", ensure the context clearly defines the subject worthy of attention. While acceptable, diversifying your language with alternatives like "warrant attention" or "deserve consideration" can enhance writing clarity and engagement. The phrase has a 'Common' frequency of usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

warrant attention

Changes the verb to "warrant" while maintaining the focus on the need for attention.

deserve consideration

Emphasizes the need for thoughtful examination instead of immediate worry.

call for scrutiny

Shifts the focus to the need for careful and critical examination.

justify apprehension

Highlights the validity of feeling anxious or uneasy about something.

raise alarms

Indicates that something is significant enough to cause a warning.

give cause for concern

Replaces the verb with a phrase indicating that a reason for worry exists.

be worthy of attention

Highlights worthiness of examination.

be a cause for alarm

Highlights that something should set off alarm bells.

warrant further investigation

Highlights that something should be investigated.

merit further attention

Highlights the necessity for increased observation.

FAQs

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

You can use "merit concern" to indicate that something is worthy of attention and worry. For example, "The lack of funding for the project "merits concern"".

What are some alternatives to "merit concern"?

Alternatives include "warrant attention", "deserve consideration", or "call for scrutiny" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "merit concern" a formal or informal expression?

"Merit concern" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal expression, suitable for news articles, academic papers, and professional communications. However, you might opt for simpler language in informal contexts.

What's the difference between "merit concern" and "cause concern"?

"Merit concern" suggests that something deserves to be worried about, while "cause concern" means something is actively creating worry. The former is more about justification, whereas the latter is about direct causation.