substantial concern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial concern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing significant issues or worries regarding a particular topic or situation. Example: "The committee expressed substantial concern about the environmental impact of the proposed project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is therefore substantial concern about abnormalities in cloned humans.

The New York Times

Therefore, there is substantial concern about the economic, ecological, and sociocultural consequences of this disease.

University of California, Berkeley

Allegations of substantial concern were lumped together with relatively minor charges of no apparent military significance.

The New York Times

Background: The quality of medication use in older adults is a recurring problem of substantial concern.

The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy

"It's become a substantial concern among OB-GYN's, who are beginning to step back a little, I think.

The New York Times

So asynchronous circuits could be particularly useful in devices such as mobile phones, where radio interference is a substantial concern.

The Economist

Robotic warfare has been on the radar of realistic development options for at least a decade, and raises substantial concern about a robotic arms race.

Columbia University

"It is a substantial concern of mine that we could have a five-year wrestling match and, at the end, that's it, it's all over," Mr. Cherkasky said.

The New York Times

There has been substantial concern that aspen has been declining in the western US, but trends of aspen persistence vary both geographically and temporally.

Forest Ecology and Management

Pharmaceutical contamination of shallow groundwater is a substantial concern in effluent-dominated streams, due to high aqueous mobility, designed bioactivity, and effluent-driven hydraulic gradients.

Environmental Pollution

There can be no question that the public debates at the sessions of the city council regarding Bresler's negotiations with the city were a subject of substantial concern to all who lived in the community.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantial concern" to clearly and directly communicate that a particular issue is causing significant worry or anxiety among a group of people or within an organization. Ensure the context provides enough information about why the concern is substantial.

Common error

While appropriate for formal writing, avoid using "substantial concern" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler phrases like "big worry" or "major concern" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial concern" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the subject complement or object in a sentence. It indicates a significant level of worry or anxiety about a particular issue. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial concern" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to convey significant worry or anxiety. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's suitable for formal contexts like academic, scientific, and news reporting. Its usage spans across various domains, emphasizing issues of health, environment, and security. While effective, it's advisable to consider simpler alternatives in casual settings. The phrase's frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The New York Times and ScienceDirect underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry" and "substantial" with "significant", offering a slightly less formal tone.

genuine worry

Replaces "concern" with "worry" and "substantial" with "genuine", offering a slightly less formal tone.

serious apprehension

Uses stronger vocabulary like "apprehension" to emphasize the gravity of the concern.

major misgiving

Focuses on a feeling of doubt or unease about something, replacing "concern" with "misgiving".

grave anxiety

Emphasizes the intensity of the concern by using "grave" and "anxiety".

considerable disquiet

Employs a more formal and nuanced expression for unease.

notable disquietude

Uses more formal vocabulary like "disquietude" to emphasize the gravity of the concern.

real cause for alarm

Highlights that the concern warrants a sense of urgency and potential danger.

significant reservations

Focuses on expressing doubts or hesitations about something.

legitimate unease

Highlights the validity and justification for the feeling of unease.

FAQs

How can I use "substantial concern" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial concern" to express a significant worry or anxiety about something. For example, "There is "substantial concern" about the environmental impact of the new factory".

What can I say instead of "substantial concern"?

You can use alternatives like "significant worry", "serious apprehension", or "grave anxiety" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "substantial concern" or "serious concern"?

Both "substantial concern" and "serious concern" are valid, but "substantial" implies a greater degree of worry and significance than "serious". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "substantial concern"?

The phrase "substantial concern" is most appropriate in formal or professional contexts when you want to express a significant level of worry or anxiety about a particular issue. It is commonly used in academic, scientific, and news reporting.