shared concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"shared concern" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to an issue or topic that is of mutual concern to two or more people. For example, "The two parties discussed their shared concern over the budget deficit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is, for example, shared concern over Russia, with 84percentt of Americans and 72percentt of Europeans worried about the Kremlin providing weapons to the Middle East.

The New York Times

A simple interpretation of Copenhagen would say the delegates were motivated by altruism and shared concern, reflecting a dispassionate assessment of risk and rational decision-making.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the crisis in Haiti apparently gave the three a rallying point to express their deeply shared concern and a belief in the American spirit of giving.

The New York Times

But they shared concern with the long-term deficit impact of whatever is done.

Forbes

During a break one morning, a few kitchen workers shared concern about their front-of-the-house, urban colleagues, who never carried lunch from home, instead buying it from the kitchen.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

These countries come together in a spirit of shared concern and shared commitment to address climate change and the risks that come with it.

Huffington Post

We walked through Manhattan Island singing, sharing, praying, debating, and generally having a wonderful time expressing our shared concern.

Huffington Post

It's a shared concern.

Harvard University

I love this shared concern for sensitivity around language.

The Guardian - Opinion

But our interests are very much a shared concern.

The Guardian - Business

"His chain of command all shared concern over his mental state," the document said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with prepositions like "about", "over" or "for" to specify the subject of the worry.

Common error

Do not use "shared concern" if the parties involved are actually excited or happy about the topic. A concern implies a potential problem or a matter that requires attention and care. For purely positive commonalities, use "common interest" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shared concern" functions as a noun phrase composed of the past participle "shared" acting as an adjective and the head noun "concern". According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe a topic or issue that affects or interests two or more parties simultaneously.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "shared concern" is a highly effective and grammatically sound phrase that excels in collaborative and formal settings. Ludwig AI shows that it is extensively used by authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian to describe issues where multiple parties find agreement in their worries or priorities. Whether you are writing an academic paper, a diplomatic report or a professional email, this phrase helps to frame problems as collective challenges rather than individual burdens. It is a reliable choice for anyone looking to build consensus through clear and empathetic English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mutual concern

Interchangeable but emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the worry.

common interest

Broader in scope, often used for positive goals rather than just worries.

collective anxiety

Shifts the focus toward a shared emotional state or psychological tension.

joint apprehension

More formal and suggests a specific fear regarding a future event.

unifying worry

Highlights how the specific concern brings disparate groups together.

shared preoccupation

Implies a more constant or obsessive level of focus on the issue.

overlapping issues

More technical and clinical, often used in policy or logistics.

public concern

Refers to the general population rather than specific identifiable parties.

common ground

An idiomatic way to describe the area of agreement or shared focus.

mutual interest

Focuses more on benefit and gain than on worry or problem-solving.

FAQs

How do I use "shared concern" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a mutual problem, for example: "The rising sea levels are a shared concern for all coastal nations."

What can I say instead of "shared concern"?

Depending on your context, you might use "mutual concern", ""common interest"" or "collective anxiety".

Which is correct, "shared concern" or "common concern"?

Both are grammatically correct. However, "shared concern" is more common when referring to specific partners, while "common concern" often refers to something affecting society as a whole.

Is "shared concern" too formal for an email?

No, it is a very appropriate and professional way to bring up a problem in a business email without sounding accusatory.