rather concerning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather concerning" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that something is worrisome or disturbing. For example, "The doctor's diagnosis was rather concerning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"It's a good intention, but the time-frames are still rather concerning showing an awareness of the problem but not the haste to address it.

The Guardian

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: "It is rather concerning that the number of people applying to university appears to be continuing to fall.

Independent

I kept checking the inquiry website just in case anything had changed, and there was a rather concerning moment when it didn't work at all.

BBC

Now, let me ask you the question again: Do you still stand by what you said yesterday concerning concerning Barack Obama -- or, rather, concerning John Edwards' affair?

Huffington Post

However within a few weeks of basking in our joy and anticipation of the savings we were going to experience we started getting some rather concerning emails from our former cable company about data overages!

Huffington Post

Reports of incorrect treatment to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare are seldom made by patients because of over-use of an intervention, but rather concerning shortcomings of interventions.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

They are, rather, concerned with a stranger, but also more intimately familiar, set of problems.

The New York Times

That is, the classes from the structural viewpoint rather concern the surface structure of a problem, while the classes from the functional viewpoint rather concern its physical structure.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

However, Herder's most intrinsically valuable contribution to the philosophy of religion rather concerns the interpretation of the Bible.

SEP

This also supports the hypothesis that it rather concerns the category lexical aspect, usually characterized by derivational morphology, and not the category grammatical aspect.

Lingua Sinica

In Meisterernst (2016b), it has been argued that the aspectual distinctions expressed by the reconstructed verbal morphology rather concern the lexical than the grammatical aspect.

Lingua Sinica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies the source or cause of concern to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "rather concerning" when the situation demands stronger language. Overusing it can dilute the impact and misrepresent the severity of the issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather concerning" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to express a moderate level of worry or apprehension. As supported by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather concerning" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to express a mild to moderate level of worry. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase is primarily found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When writing, be mindful to use it when the situation warrants attention but isn't severely alarming. Alternatives such as "somewhat worrying" or "slightly alarming" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat worrying

Implies a slightly lower level of concern than the original phrase.

slightly alarming

Suggests a more immediate sense of potential danger or problem.

a bit disturbing

Focuses on the unsettling nature of the issue.

cause for unease

Highlights the feeling of discomfort or anxiety that the issue provokes.

moderately troubling

Emphasizes the problematic aspect of the situation.

kind of disquieting

Implies a subtle but noticeable sense of anxiety.

potentially worrisome

Highlights the possibility of future problems or negative outcomes.

gives some cause for concern

Directly states that there's a reason to be worried.

not entirely reassuring

Indicates a lack of confidence or comfort regarding the situation.

a little unsettling

Focuses on the slightly disruptive or agitating nature of the issue.

FAQs

How can I use "rather concerning" in a sentence?

You can use "rather concerning" to express mild worry about something. For instance, "The decrease in university applications is "rather concerning"."

What are some alternatives to "rather concerning"?

Alternatives include "somewhat worrying", "slightly alarming", or "a bit disturbing", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "rather concerning" formal or informal?

"Rather concerning" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal, suitable for both news articles and professional communication.

What makes something "rather concerning" as opposed to simply concerning?

The addition of "rather" softens the concern, indicating it's not critically alarming but still noteworthy and potentially problematic. It suggests a moderate level of unease.