my main worry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "my main worry" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing your primary concern or anxiety about a particular situation or issue. Example: "As the deadline approaches, my main worry is whether we will complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

"My main worry was death," she said.

Independent

It's not my main worry now.

The Guardian - Sport

My main worry is that won't serve Cumbria".

The Guardian

That was my main worry and it didn't hurt".

The New York Times - Sports

"At the moment, my future is not my main worry," Wenger said.

The Times

When I was growing up, my main worry on the way to school was loose dogs.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

One of my main worries when signing with an agency was making my Instagram feed too commercial, so what I try to do is only accept jobs that match with my content and not post anything too harsh for my audience.

The Guardian - Tech

One of my main worries about the original result was that if the shape of this profile varied by a small amount between CERN and Gran Sasso, the result might change a lot, and they had not considered this systematic uncertainty.

The Guardian

'You know whatever else is going on in her life I think that would be one of my main worries really (energy); you know can I get to grips with the tiredness, because it will be a principal issue because she can't cope if she is tired and not sleeping'.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

"It's very worrying, the main worry is my health," said a 28-year-old marketing worker surnamed Hu, carrying an anti-smog mask decorated with a pink pig's nose as she walked in central Beijing.

The Guardian

When my wife and I go to the movies, our main worry is maybe we picked a movie our security men won't like.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "my main worry" to clearly and directly state your most significant concern in a situation. This helps to focus the discussion and ensure clarity in communication.

Common error

Avoid using "my main worry" repeatedly in a short span of text. Vary your language by using synonyms like "my biggest concern" or "my primary anxiety" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my main worry" functions as a subject complement, specifically identifying the speaker's primary concern. Ludwig's examples show its usage in expressing anxieties related to various situations, from personal safety to global events. This makes it a versatile expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "my main worry" is a common and versatile way to express a primary concern or anxiety. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While it's a direct and effective way to communicate your biggest concern, be mindful of overuse and consider alternatives like "my biggest concern" or "my primary anxiety" to enhance your writing. Ensure clarity and focus when using this phrase to highlight the most significant issue at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

my biggest concern

Replaces 'worry' with 'concern', indicating a slightly more formal tone.

my overriding concern

Indicates that the worry is the most important or dominant one.

my primary anxiety

Substitutes 'worry' with 'anxiety', emphasizing the emotional aspect of the concern.

my chief fear

Emphasizes the fear aspect of the worry, suggesting a stronger emotional response.

what I'm most apprehensive about

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the feeling of worry.

the issue that troubles me most

Replaces 'worry' with 'issue' and 'troubles', making the concern sound more like a problem to be solved.

the thing I'm dreading most

Highlights the anticipation of something negative, shifting the focus slightly.

what's weighing heavily on my mind

Emphasizes the mental burden associated with the worry.

the greatest source of my unease

Uses a more formal and descriptive phrase to express the worry.

the thought that keeps me up at night

Focuses on the impact of the worry on sleep and overall well-being.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "my main worry" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "my primary concern", "my chief concern", or "my overriding concern".

What's a more emphatic alternative to "my main worry"?

If you want to emphasize the anxiety, you could say "my chief fear" or "what I'm most apprehensive about".

How can I use "my main worry" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "As the project deadline approaches, "my main worry" is whether we will complete all the tasks on time."

Is there a more descriptive way to express "my main worry"?

Consider using phrases like "what's weighing heavily on my mind" or "the thought that keeps me up at night" for a more descriptive expression.