serious concerns

USAGE SUMMARY

"serious concerns" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to express a deep concern or worry about something. For example: "We have serious concerns about their safety if they are not provided with proper protective gear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Those were serious concerns.

The Economist

And there are more serious concerns.

The Economist

"This time, there are serious concerns".

The New Yorker

This should raise serious concerns.

The Guardian - Opinion

All involve serious concerns about child protection.

The Guardian

But there have been more serious concerns.

The New York Times

It has also caused serious concerns about air quality.

The New York Times

"We feel even more direct and serious concerns".

The New York Times

All have also expressed serious concerns about unemployment.

The New York Times

Soldiers, one might think, have more serious concerns than teeth.

The New Yorker

"From the start of this we've had serious concerns.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serious concerns", specify the object of concern to provide context and clarity. For example, instead of just saying "We have serious concerns", clarify with "We have serious concerns about the budget cuts".

Common error

Avoid using "serious concerns" as a vague statement. Always follow up with the specific issue or area of concern to add weight and clarity to your statement. For instance, replace "There are serious concerns" with "There are serious concerns regarding the environmental impact of the proposed project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious concerns" functions as a noun phrase, where "serious" modifies the noun "concerns". It typically acts as the subject or object of a verb, expressing significant worries or apprehensions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "serious concerns" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express significant worry or apprehension. As Ludwig AI validates, the phrase is acceptable in written English. It is versatile across various contexts, but predominates in news, scientific, and formal business settings. The phrase's impact is maximized when the specific concerns are clearly articulated, avoiding vague or generic statements. Alternatives such as "grave worries" or "significant apprehensions" can provide nuanced expression, depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grave worries

Replaces "concerns" with "worries" and "serious" with "grave", indicating a severe level of apprehension.

major anxieties

Substitutes "concerns" with "anxieties" and "serious" with "major", emphasizing a significant degree of unease.

significant apprehensions

Replaces "concerns" with "apprehensions" and "serious" with "significant", suggesting a notable level of anxiety.

profound disquiet

Uses more formal vocabulary, replacing "serious concerns" with "profound disquiet" to convey deep unease.

deep misgivings

Employs "misgivings" instead of "concerns", highlighting strong feelings of doubt or apprehension.

alarming reservations

Replaces "concerns" with "reservations" and "serious" with "alarming", indicating strong hesitations and worry.

genuine unease

Substitutes "concerns" with "unease" and "serious" with "genuine", emphasizing authentic worry or discomfort.

troubling worries

Uses "worries" instead of "concerns" and "troubling" instead of "serious", suggesting problematic or bothersome concerns.

critical issues

Shifts the focus from concern to the importance of the "issues", indicating that they are of utmost importance.

pressing problems

Highlights the urgency of the problems, suggesting that they need immediate attention and are causing significant concern.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "serious concerns" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "grave worries", "profound disquiet", or "significant apprehensions".

What are some less formal alternatives to "serious concerns"?

In less formal contexts, you might use phrases like "big worries", "major issues", or "troubling problems".

Is it always necessary to specify what the "serious concerns" are?

While it's not always grammatically required, specifying the subject of your "serious concerns" greatly enhances clarity and impact. Providing context helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens your message.

How does the intensity of "serious concerns" compare to other expressions of worry?

"Serious concerns" suggests a significant level of worry, but not necessarily the highest. Phrases like "grave fears" or "dire warnings" indicate a higher level of alarm.