somewhat troubling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat troubling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a mild concern or unease about a situation or issue. Example: "The recent changes in policy are somewhat troubling, as they may affect the well-being of our employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

But I cannot see how any of the others were—somewhat troubling for an introduction to MIT's design philosophies.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Two years ago, Throwing Muses frontwoman Kristin Hersh told the Guardian that every time she writes a song she gets suicidal urges, which makes the band's first album in over a decade somewhat troubling.

The Guardian - Music

Now, of course, Murphy has granted his greatest wish, which also feels somewhat troubling.

Huffington Post

Each of these three are somewhat troubling in their own unique ways.

Astrobiology

The choice of control groups in some studies is also somewhat troubling.

Critical Care

11) Figure 5 and Results: The comparison with previous studies is somewhat troubling.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Dr. Claire Riley, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care & Research Center at Columbia University, was equally impressed with the work and somewhat troubled by its results.

The New York Times - Health

somewhat troubled by the absence of a consistent policy governing our willingness to permit the President to participate in these private, commercial tributes...

The Washington Post

Afterward, I told DeLay I was somewhat troubled by the idea that he essentially wanted to remold the government to meet his fundamentalist Christian worldview.

The Washington Post

"I think a number of people who are conservative are somewhat troubled by the images coming out of there," he said.

The Washington Post

Ms. Cornetti's mezzo-soprano shot out from the stage like a cannon, unrelenting and with a dark resonance somewhat troubled by overactive vibrato.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat troubling" to express a nuanced concern without overstating the issue. It is ideal when you want to acknowledge a problem without exaggerating its severity.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on "somewhat troubling" in formal reports or academic papers. While grammatically sound, overuse can weaken your argument. Instead, consider more precise and impactful vocabulary to highlight the specific nature of your concern.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat troubling" functions as an intensifier (somewhat) modifying an adjective (troubling). It serves to qualify or temper the adjective, indicating a moderate degree of concern or unease. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "somewhat troubling" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a mild sense of concern or unease. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Science. While versatile, writers should consider more specific vocabulary in formal contexts. Alternatives include "slightly concerning" and "a bit disturbing", offering nuances in intensity. The phrase is best used when acknowledging an issue without exaggerating its severity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat worrying

Replaces "troubling" with "worrying", keeping "somewhat" to maintain a sense of slight concern.

slightly concerning

Changes the adjective to "concerning" and uses "slightly" instead of "somewhat", indicating a minor degree of worry.

marginally concerning

Uses "marginally" instead of "somewhat" and "concerning" instead of "troubling", implying a minimal level of worry.

a bit disturbing

Replaces "troubling" with "disturbing" and "somewhat" with "a bit", suggesting a slightly stronger negative feeling.

moderately worrisome

Substitutes "troubling" with "worrisome" and "somewhat" with "moderately", suggesting a mid-level concern.

mildly alarming

Substitutes "troubling" with "alarming" and "somewhat" with "mildly", conveying a sense of slight fear or worry.

rather unsettling

Uses "unsettling" in place of "troubling" and "rather" instead of "somewhat", indicating a disturbance to one's peace of mind.

a tad disquieting

Employs "disquieting" in place of "troubling" and "a tad" instead of "somewhat", conveying a sense of unease.

a little problematic

Changes the focus to the presence of problems rather than emotional unease.

slightly bothersome

Replaces "troubling" with "bothersome" suggesting mild annoyance or irritation.

FAQs

How can I use "somewhat troubling" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat troubling" to express mild concern about something. For example: "The recent increase in errors is "somewhat troubling", and we need to investigate the cause."

What can I say instead of "somewhat troubling"?

Alternatives to "somewhat troubling" include "slightly concerning", "a bit disturbing", or "mildly alarming depending on the intensity of the concern".

Is it appropriate to use "somewhat troubling" in formal writing?

Yes, "somewhat troubling" is appropriate for formal writing when you want to express a mild concern without being overly dramatic. However, consider using more specific language to describe the issue if possible.

What's the difference between "somewhat troubling" and "very troubling"?

"Somewhat troubling" indicates a mild concern or unease, while "very troubling" implies a much stronger and more serious issue. The choice depends on the severity of the problem you're describing.