most concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"most concern" is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it to mean that something is of the greatest worry to someone. For example, "Global warming is a topic of most concern for environmentalists."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Most concern dominatrixes.

The Economist

Of most concern is his diminished velocity.

The New York Times - Sports

Essex's seam bowling will most concern them.

The Guardian - Sport

These deviations from the cross-section cause the most concern.

The New Yorker

Soaps were the programmes which caused most concern.

Independent

Most concern betrayal, anxiety, revenge, obsession, aggression, imbalance, and loneliness.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the challenges are staggering, and most concern money.

The New York Times

What are the issues of most concern to you?

The New York Times

Now, it is the neighborhoods that most concern preservationists.

The New York Times

But it is the patterns that are of most concern.

The New York Times

The "structurally deficient" bridges give the most concern.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "most concern", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the worry or importance. For example, "Of most concern is the lack of funding."

Common error

Avoid using "most concern" when you actually mean "some concern" or "slight concern". "Most concern" implies a high degree of worry or importance, so ensure it aligns with the intended severity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most concern" functions as a noun phrase, often part of a prepositional phrase (e.g., "of most concern"), to identify the subject or issue that is causing the greatest worry or is of highest importance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "most concern" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the greatest worry or highest priority. Ludwig AI confirms this, highlighting its presence in diverse sources, primarily within News & Media and Scientific domains. When using this phrase, remember to clarify the subject that is causing this worry and to align with the intended level of significance. Avoid using it when referring to just "some" or "slight" worry. Alternatives include "major concern" or "primary concern", offering subtle nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major concern

Replaces "most" with "major", indicating a high level of importance or worry.

primary concern

Substitutes "most" with "primary", highlighting the top priority or worry.

chief concern

Uses "chief" instead of "most", emphasizing the principal or main worry.

principal concern

Replaces "most" with "principal", denoting the leading or foremost concern.

greatest worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry", emphasizing the anxious aspect, and "most" with "greatest".

biggest concern

Swaps "most" for "biggest", conveying the largest or most significant worry.

top priority

Changes the structure to focus on the highest priority, differing slightly from a worry-centric meaning.

main issue

Shifts the focus to the key problem or issue, moving away from emotional worry.

foremost consideration

Emphasizes careful thought and attention as the primary focus, differing slightly in connotation.

paramount importance

Highlights the supreme importance of something, moving further from the specific sense of worry.

FAQs

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

You can use "most concern" to indicate what issue or situation is causing the greatest worry. For example, "The environmental impact is of "most concern" to the community".

What are some alternatives to "most concern"?

Alternatives include "major concern", "primary concern", or "chief concern" depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "of most concern" or "of the most concern"?

"Of "most concern"" is generally preferred. Adding "the" is grammatically incorrect in most contexts.

What's the difference between "most concern" and "greatest concern"?

While similar, ""most concern"" is more commonly used to introduce a specific worry or problem, whereas "greatest concern" may emphasize the intensity of the worry itself.