of earnest concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of earnest concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a serious or genuine worry about a particular issue or situation. Example: "The committee issued a statement of earnest concern regarding the environmental impact of the proposed project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

She is a whirlwind of energy and initiative, bouncing through squalid housing projects and sleazy bars, stopping to pull a grimace of earnest concern and then disarming anyone who doubts her with a cheery joke.

The New York Times

If the actor is crazy, the recording angel is sternly sane, and the literary form of the book becomes a perfect metaphor of the way sixties people intentionally made fools of themselves in a state of earnest concern bordering on anguish.

The New Yorker

Otherwise it really provides a lot more time for Erso herself to speak, and really generally increases the epic feel of the film, with a mounting, symphonic backing track and a lot of earnest concern about the future of the galaxy.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

These examples, and others like them, have been created and shared out of what appears to be an earnest concern about the outrageousness of Trump's political statements, and to sound an alarm about the dangers that his candidacy might pose to the country.

The New Yorker

Laura Ingraham told her listeners that she was "beginning to enjoy" the shutdown; she also tweeted out her apparently earnest concern that the closure of a parking lot on federal land meant that "ppl risk their lives pulling off the GW Pkwy".

The Guardian - Opinion

Still, much of what he thought and wrote stemmed from the events that he witnessed in his formative years, in the 1870s and 1880s, and in the earnest concern he took in them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After expressing earnest concern for Americans without health insurance he continues:  But come on, people.

The Guardian

Some of the meat and fish in other dishes — the raw tuna in a riff on nachos with a rich avocado cream; quail in an appetizer salad jazzed up with bacon — reflect earnest concern with ingredients.

The New York Times - Food

The whining manipulation is driven by the universal opinion of pollsters that most women voters are tender flowers who cannot bear any expression on a candidate's face other than earnest concern for their children.

The New York Times

But the uncertainty of when — or if — players might be willing to start negotiating in earnest concerns some owners.

The New York Times - Sports

At the same time, President Lobo has made a number of earnest efforts to address some of the U.S. and international concerns and conditions.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more direct alternatives like "genuinely worried" or "deeply concerned" for everyday communication.

Common error

Avoid using "of earnest concern" in casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or pretentious. Instead, opt for simpler phrases like "really worried" or "very concerned".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of earnest concern" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun. It adds a sense of gravity and sincerity to the concern being expressed. The Ludwig AI analysis confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "of earnest concern" is a prepositional phrase used to express a deep and sincere worry about something. While grammatically correct and validated by Ludwig AI, it's relatively rare and more appropriate for formal or neutral writing styles, such as those found in news media, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. Simpler alternatives like "genuinely worried" or "deeply concerned" are better suited for informal contexts. When choosing the most fitting phrase, consider the tone you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of genuine worry

Replaces "earnest" with "genuine", focusing on sincerity of worry.

of sincere concern

Substitutes "earnest" with "sincere", emphasizing honesty and depth of concern.

a matter of grave concern

Uses a noun phrase to denote the subject as serious.

a significant concern

Replaces "earnest" with "significant", highlighting the importance of the concern.

a serious worry

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the worry itself.

deeply concerning

Transforms the phrase into an adjective phrase modifying a subject.

cause for alarm

Indicates something that should create attention.

reason for apprehension

Highlights potential fear or unease about something.

of considerable importance

Focuses on the importance aspect, downplaying worry.

worthy of serious consideration

Emphasizes that something needs to be carefully thought about.

FAQs

How can I use "of earnest concern" in a sentence?

Use "of earnest concern" to express serious worry about something. For example, "The environmental impact assessment raised issues "of earnest concern" among the community members".

What's a good alternative to "of earnest concern"?

Alternatives include "of genuine concern", "of serious concern", or "deeply concerning", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "of earnest concern"?

It's appropriate in formal writing or speech, such as official reports, news articles, or academic papers, where you want to convey a sense of serious and sincere worry.

Is "of earnest concern" the same as "of great concern"?

While both phrases express worry, "of earnest concern" emphasizes the sincerity and depth of the worry, whereas "of great concern" simply highlights the magnitude or importance of the issue.