start worrying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "start worrying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing worries or concern about a particular situation or topic. For example, "With the increasing number of coronavirus cases, I'm starting to worry about my family's health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I will start worrying.

The Guardian - Books

"We have to start worrying about losing.

The New York Times - Sports

Favre may start worrying about discipline, too.

The New York Times

You don't start worrying about apocalypse.

The New Yorker

You start worrying: how is it breathing?

The Guardian - Film

I like to start worrying early.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Start worrying about his alcohol consumption?

The Guardian - Books

When he finds some that do, start worrying.

The Economist

"It was time to start worrying about succession," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

One more thing we all need to start worrying about.

The New York Times - Arts

Once they start worrying about the present, we're in trouble".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "start worrying" to signal the initial stage of concern about a situation. It's often followed by an explanation of what's causing the worry. Example: "Seeing the stock market decline, investors began to "start worrying" about their retirement funds."

Common error

While "start worrying" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can sound repetitive or simplistic. Vary your language with synonyms like "become concerned" or "grow apprehensive" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start worrying" functions as a verb phrase indicating the initiation of a state of concern or anxiety. It's often used to signal a transition from a neutral state to one of worry, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

13%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "start worrying" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate the onset of concern or anxiety. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. It's frequently found in news and media, as well as academic writing, and serves to highlight the beginning of a state of worry. While versatile, it's best to consider synonyms like "become concerned" or "grow apprehensive" for more formal contexts. Numerous examples demonstrate its use in various scenarios, from financial concerns to political anxieties. When using "start worrying", ensure you provide context for what's causing the worry to maximize clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become anxious

Emphasizes the state of anxiety itself, rather than the initiation of the worrying process.

get concerned

Implies a level of worry that stems from genuine care or responsibility.

begin to fret

Focuses more on the emotional aspect of anxiety, suggesting a more agitated state than simply beginning to worry.

grow apprehensive

Suggests a gradual increase in worry, often related to anticipating a negative outcome.

get stressed

Focuses on the general feeling of stress that accompanies worrying.

feel uneasy

Highlights the discomfort and lack of peace associated with the onset of worry.

develop fears

Focuses on the emergence of specific fears as the worrying progresses.

be alarmed

Indicates a sudden and intense onset of worry, often triggered by a specific event.

lose sleep over

Emphasizes the impact of worry on one's ability to rest, highlighting its intrusiveness.

turn to panic

Suggests the worry is quickly escalating to a state of panic.

FAQs

How can I use "start worrying" in a sentence?

You can use "start worrying" to indicate the beginning of a state of concern. For example: "If the company's profits continue to decline, the shareholders will "become anxious" and "start worrying"."

What's a more formal alternative to "start worrying"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "become concerned", "grow apprehensive", or "develop concerns" to express a similar sentiment with a more professional tone.

When is it appropriate to use "start worrying"?

"Start worrying" is suitable in many everyday situations, news reports, and less formal writing. It's best used when you want to emphasize the initial onset of concern about something.

What's the difference between "start worrying" and "worry"?

"Worry" is a general term for feeling anxious or troubled. "Start worrying" specifically indicates the point at which that anxiety begins. For example, you might "worry" about climate change in general, but "begin to fret and ""start worrying"" when a major climate report is released.