might concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "might concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing potential issues or topics that could be relevant or important to someone or something. Example: "The changes in policy might concern employees who are affected by the new regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

A more pertinent question might concern the government's decision to send in the army.

The Guardian - Opinion

The health of his players might concern Cats coach Chris Scott, but form certainly won't.

The Guardian - Sport

If the title sounds instructional, it might concern the marketing of a début novel: sex, drugs, and bling get noticed.

The New Yorker

The same cleaning woman was there and I said that any papers left behind might concern Miss Cotell.

The New Yorker

If such an argument should unexpectedly prevail, then the greater issue might concern the value of legal precedent itself.

The New York Times

And the couple have forged another pact: anything that might concern Mr. Kay is run by him before publication.

The New York Times

He noted, though, that this might increase the risks being taken by the firm – which in turn might concern regulators.

The Guardian - Business

A more urgent question might concern how the legal and technological aspects of the music industry encourage us to forget.

The New Yorker

And here she looks back to her childhood, when a difficult decision might concern how to spend a nickel.

The New York Times - Books

"Tell… If the title sounds instructional, it might concern the marketing of a début novel: sex, drugs, and bling get noticed.

The New Yorker

The app's storing of login and password information might concern some people with an ear for stories about hackers outpacing Internet security experts.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "might concern", ensure the context clearly indicates what or whom the potential concern relates to. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "might concern" without specifying the object of the concern. For instance, instead of saying "This might concern some people", specify who the "some people" are and what the issue is: "This new regulation might concern small business owners."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "might concern" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a possibility or potentiality that something could cause worry or be relevant to a specific person or group. According to Ludwig AI, this expression is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "might concern" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that introduces a potential worry or relevance. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, primarily in news, media, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, it is important to be specific about the object of the concern. Alternatives like "could affect" or "may involve" can be used depending on the intended nuance. Its presence across reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian affirms its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might involve

Replaces "concern" with "involve", focusing on potential inclusion or implication.

might be related to

Uses "related to" instead of "concern", highlighting a possible connection or association.

could involve

Replaces "concern" with "involve", focusing on potential inclusion or implication.

may affect

Substitutes "concern" with "affect", emphasizing a potential impact or influence.

may pertain to

Replaces "concern" with the more formal "pertain to", suggesting a direct relevance or connection.

could be relevant to

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the potential relevance of something.

could potentially impact

Emphasizes the potential effect or influence that something may have.

may be of interest to

Shifts the focus to the potential interest that something holds for someone.

might have bearing on

Substitutes "concern" with "have bearing on", suggesting that something could potentially influence or affect a particular matter.

may give rise to

Indicates that something could potentially cause or lead to a particular issue or situation.

FAQs

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

Use "might concern" to introduce something that could potentially worry or affect someone. For example, "The new policy "might concern" employees."

What are some alternatives to "might concern"?

Alternatives include "could affect", "may involve", or "might relate to". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to use "might concern" or "may concern"?

Both "might concern" and "may concern" are grammatically correct and express possibility. "Might" suggests a slightly lower probability than "may", but the difference is often negligible.

What is the difference between "might concern" and "might be of interest to"?

"Might concern" implies a potential worry or relevance in a negative or important way, whereas "might be of interest to" simply suggests something could be relevant or engaging. The difference lies in the connotation of worry versus interest.