slightly concerning

USAGE SUMMARY

The term "slightly concerning" is a perfectly valid phrase which can be used in written English.
For example, "It was slightly concerning that he had not responded to my messages".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Despite the slightly concerning Big Brother element to all this, experts say this is fundamentally a good thing.

Independent

A defeat at Second Division Ipswich in the Full Members Cup may not have been earth-shattering, but the fact that Villa were outclassed was slightly concerning.

The Guardian - Sport

He said: "This line that Public Health England are taking is slightly concerning because we have now had this data, this is the second year, and I'm wondering how many years of data do they need?

The Guardian

Its shares have dropped 5.5% to 241.8p following the update, and analysts at Peel Hunt said the modest order intake in the second half was slightly concerning: Carillion has much to offer and the shares are not expensive on a headline PE and yield basis.

The Guardian - Business

However, it also says: "It is slightly concerning that a number of companies felt there would not be much benefit from the Nato summit coming to Wales".

BBC

It is great to see that families are saving more than ever, but slightly concerning that debt levels are continuing to climb," said Louise Colley, protection distribution director for Aviva.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

723 Moderately or very concerned 32 0.1788 723 Slightly concerned 68 0.1788 35 Do you participate in patient support groups?

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

With respect to Mexico and Canada, the t-test shows that the coefficient results for the first dummy variable (not at all concerned vs. slightly concerned) are not significant.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

This indicates that the level of policy support does not vary between people who are not at all concerned or slightly concerned.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

For example, the first dummy variable demonstrated the difference between the change in the level of renewable energy policy support for the group of people who stated that they are not at all concerned about possible negative impacts of CC and the ones who are slightly concerned.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

"Some are slightly concerned," the source said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slightly concerning", ensure the context clarifies the specific reason for the concern. Providing details enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly concerning" when the situation warrants a stronger term. Overusing it can diminish the impact of genuine concerns.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly concerning" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that causes a mild degree of worry or unease. Ludwig AI indicates its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly concerning" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjectival phrase that expresses a moderate level of worry or unease. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile enough for various contexts, although it's most prevalent in News & Media and Science. When using this phrase, ensure that the context provides specific details to avoid ambiguity and prevent overstating the level of concern. Alternatives like "somewhat worrying" or "a bit troubling" can be considered for subtle variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat worrying

Replaces "concerning" with "worrying" and "slightly" with "somewhat", altering the tone slightly.

a bit troubling

Uses "troubling" instead of "concerning" and "a bit" for "slightly", indicating a similar level of concern.

mildly alarming

Substitutes "concerning" with "alarming" and "slightly" with "mildly", suggesting a slightly stronger negative reaction.

rather unsettling

Replaces "concerning" with "unsettling" and "slightly" with "rather", conveying a sense of unease.

somewhat disquieting

Employs "disquieting" in place of "concerning" and "somewhat" instead of "slightly", expressing a sense of mild anxiety.

a little bothersome

Uses "bothersome" for "concerning" and "a little" for "slightly", suggesting a minor source of irritation or worry.

of mild concern

Rephrases the expression to use "of mild concern", shifting the grammatical structure.

not entirely reassuring

Expresses concern by stating the opposite of reassuring, indicating a lack of complete comfort.

raising a few eyebrows

Uses an idiomatic expression to suggest something is causing mild surprise or concern.

giving cause for pause

Suggests that something is causing one to stop and consider due to a mild concern.

FAQs

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

Use "slightly concerning" to express a mild level of worry or unease about something. For example, "It was "slightly concerning" that he hadn't called."

What are some alternatives to "slightly concerning"?

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

Is "slightly concerning" formal or informal?

"Slightly concerning" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal situations might benefit from a more precise term.

What does "slightly concerning" imply about the level of worry?

It indicates a low to moderate level of concern, suggesting that something is not severely worrying but still warrants attention or consideration.