ordinary concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ordinary concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a common or typical worry or issue that people may have in various contexts. Example: "The community's ordinary concern about safety led to the formation of a neighborhood watch program."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Her fragile appearance and her easy-going nature and the fact that both her parents had died when she was quite young had made the neighbors feel a more than ordinary concern about her.

The New Yorker

But so far his conception of and argument for the idea of the beautiful as that which is perfect and complete in itself has been entirely negative; what is it in a beautiful object that can so please us and yet distract us completely from our ordinary concern with ourselves and our own pleasures?

SEP

Like many '"mompreneur ideas," what started out as a very ordinary concern turned into a real movement that launched a business which currently involves three generations of Corey's family and countless other families nationwide.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The twins came late to dating, as they did to most ordinary concerns.

The New Yorker

As a physicist, I've always found cosmology to be a rational elixir; it distances me from ordinary concerns.

The New Yorker

But as with her films and artwork, Ms July's writing playfully mixes extraordinary ingredients with ordinary concerns and the effect is often amusing and insightful.

The Economist

The act of worship may aim at a temporary leaving behind of the ordinary concerns and activities of the individual, so that meditation on the divine may occur.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The purpose, he said, is to get policy makers to focus on long-term global trends and to think beyond the ordinary concerns of the intelligence community.

The New York Times

At first, he said it was hard to compassionately deal with people's ordinary concerns after counseling soldiers on the battlefield.

The New York Times

From her snow-white jackets to her endless talk of internet-driven "participatory democracy", Ms Royal comes across as a novelty in a country disillusioned with its rulers: a listener, in touch with ordinary concerns.

The Economist

One could add that the very inequality that distances the rich from ordinary concerns gives them increased power, and so makes their anti-welfare-state views far more influential.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ordinary concern" when you want to emphasize that a particular worry or issue is common and not extraordinary. It conveys a sense of shared experience or typicality.

Common error

Avoid using "ordinary concern" too frequently in your writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "common worry" or "typical issue" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ordinary concern" functions as a noun phrase where "ordinary" modifies the noun "concern". It specifies the type of concern being referenced, indicating it is a common or typical one. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ordinary concern" is a grammatically sound way to describe common or typical worries and issues. As Ludwig highlights, the phrase is valid and usable in various contexts, though it's relatively infrequent. While "ordinary concern" appears across different categories, it is most commonly found in news and media. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "common worry" or "typical issue" to diversify your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common worry

Replaces "concern" with a more direct synonym, "worry".

typical issue

Substitutes "concern" with "issue" and "ordinary" with "typical" to convey a sense of normalcy.

usual preoccupation

Emphasizes the state of being mentally occupied with something, replacing "concern" with "preoccupation".

day-to-day worry

Highlights the routine nature of the concern.

everyday anxiety

Focuses on the anxiety aspect of concern.

mundane matter

Uses "mundane" to indicate something commonplace and "matter" instead of "concern".

regular consideration

Replaces "concern" with "consideration", suggesting a more thoughtful approach to the issue.

prevailing anxiety

Highlights a widespread sense of anxiety.

general apprehension

Focuses on the feeling of unease.

commonplace problem

Replaces "concern" with "problem", indicating a difficulty.

FAQs

What does "ordinary concern" mean?

The phrase "ordinary concern" refers to a common or typical worry, issue, or matter that many people share or experience.

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

You might say, "The "community"'s "ordinary concern" about safety led to the formation of a neighborhood watch program."

What can I say instead of "ordinary concern"?

You can use alternatives like "common worry", "typical issue", or "usual preoccupation" depending on the context.

Is "ordinary concern" formal or informal?

The phrase "ordinary concern" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal settings, consider more precise language depending on the specific concern.