subtle concern

USAGE SUMMARY

'subtle concern' is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are describing a feeling that is understated but still there, such as feeling slightly worried about something. For example, "Her face showed a subtle concern for her daughter's safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

TechCrunch

BMC Health Services Research

The Guardian

The New York Times

Huffington Post

Plosone

Artificial Intelligence

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

SEP

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Critical Care

The New Yorker - Sports

Environmental Health Perspectives

The Economist - TV & Radio

The New Yorker - Food

Evolution and Human Behavior

Science Magazine

Forbes

The New Yorker - Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Bad associations are a real, and subtle, concern since AI tools like Dango reflect back our human best and our worst.

TechCrunch

While disability status and age/longevity are undoubtedly driving forces in long-term care expenditures, a more subtle concern pertains to the competing roles of LTC insurance utilization and type of services used by LTC beneficiaries.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But if it does not remain a discrete entity within government, its more subtle concerns will be doubtless be marginalised.

The Guardian

The Yale philosopher Shelly Kagan calls this the existence requirement, and manages to raise some interesting and subtle concerns about it.

The New York Times

Margaret Redelman, a well-respected therapist, succinctly gave voice to the not so subtle concerns that a "discomfort about female sexuality underlies some of the...resistance to use anything that will alleviate women's sexual difficulty".

Huffington Post

If such were the case, one would expect more dramatic effects on posture (e.g. increase of spectral power and/or increase of postural instability index); the effect we observed is subtle concerning time only, thus suggesting less efficiency than a real deficit.

Plosone

This paper represents our attempt to characterize a family of complicated and subtle issues concerned with measuring robot task complexity.

Artificial Intelligence

(1) A subtle point concerning the definition of Shafarevich morphism is the one of passing to the normalization of a subvariety Y.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

We shall not analyze this complex argument here against supervenience emergentism, which turns on subtle issues concerning the nature of causation and counterfactuals.

SEP

Finally, some clarification is also provided of certain subtle issues concerning the accuracy of the finite element solution and monotonic convergence characteristics, and their dependence on the arithmetic precision of the computer employed is indicated.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Again, the difference between dyslexics and non dyslexics is subtle and concerns only time.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "subtle concern" when you want to express a worry or apprehension that is not immediately obvious or strongly felt. It is best suited for situations where the concern is present but understated.

Common error

Avoid using "subtle concern" when the situation warrants a stronger expression of worry or anxiety. This phrase is about understated feelings, not major crises.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "subtle concern" functions as a noun phrase, where 'subtle' modifies the noun 'concern'. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The adjective 'subtle' indicates the understated or not immediately obvious nature of the concern.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "subtle concern" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express an understated worry or apprehension. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. The phrase conveys a need for attention without implying a crisis. Consider alternatives like "mild apprehension" or "understated worry" for similar meanings. Remember to reserve this phrase for situations where the worry is genuinely subdued to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understated worry

Emphasizes the subdued nature of the concern, highlighting its lack of overt expression.

faint worry

Indicates a weak or barely perceptible level of worry.

mild apprehension

Implies a lighter degree of worry or anxiety than "subtle concern".

implicit worry

The worry is not directly stated but is understood.

slight disquiet

Focuses on a feeling of unease, often more understated than a direct concern.

veiled concern

Suggests that the concern is hidden or not openly expressed.

muted anxiety

Suggests a suppressed or quiet form of anxiety, differing slightly from concern.

tacit apprehension

The apprehension is understood or implied without being openly expressed.

low-key apprehension

Highlights the casual or informal presentation of the worry.

gentle misgiving

Emphasizes a slight feeling of doubt or uncertainty.

FAQs

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

You might say, "Her face showed a "subtle concern" for her daughter's safety", indicating a slight worry not openly expressed.

What's a good alternative to "subtle concern"?

Alternatives include phrases like "mild apprehension", "slight disquiet", or "understated worry", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "subtle concern" formal or informal?

"Subtle concern" is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts where understated worry is appropriate.

What does "subtle concern" imply about the situation?

It implies that there is a reason to worry, but the worry isn't overwhelming or overtly expressed. It suggests a situation that needs monitoring but isn't in immediate crisis.