this might worry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this might worry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a concern or potential anxiety about a situation or outcome. Example: "The recent changes in policy are significant, and this might worry some employees about job security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This might worry China.

The Economist

This might worry anyone who believes that the teaching of the creation story in this way is not appropriate for a school seeking state funds.

The Guardian

The non-signatory could take the reluctant importer to the WTO, and stand a good chance of winning.All this might worry environmentalists less if the WTO's dispute-settlement system were as limp as the old GATT's, but in fact it is remarkably effective.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

To see why that might worry managers click on this.

The Economist

And that might worry some people.On the first kind of question, the auspices are good.

The Economist

Given this, one might worry that a view according to which perfectly following one's evidence is compatible with a more or less completely mistaken view of one's situation threatens to render obscure why following one's evidence would be a good thing to do relative to the goal of having true rather than false beliefs.

SEP

"If you were to go back to 1940 and have this debate, we might worry, well, what if people are going to lose their farm jobs?" Mr. Hubbard said.

The New York Times

While there are clear merits to this idea, one might worry that the haplotype segments of non-African ancestry would pose problems for imputation.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

This position is less abrupt, although you might worry whether this strategy is truly Christian, in letter or in spirit.

SEP

So a steep decline in this number for May might worry the markets -- and bolster arguments for restraint by the Fed.

The New York Times

In other contexts and amid a different climate, I might worry about this troupe feeling homesick.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this might worry" to express a potential negative consequence or concern stemming from a specific action or situation. It's suitable when you want to highlight a possible downside without stating it as a certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "this might worry" when a stronger statement is more appropriate. If the negative outcome is highly probable or certain, use a more direct phrase to convey the severity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this might worry" functions as a modal phrase expressing a potential or possible consequence. It introduces a statement of concern without asserting it as a certainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this might worry" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that conveys a potential or possible concern. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a way to express a downside without stating it as a certainty. The phrase appears most often in News & Media and Science sources. To enhance your writing, remember to consider stronger or more formal alternatives if the situation warrants, and avoid using it when a more direct statement is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this could be concerning

Replaces "might" with "could" and "worry" with the more direct "concerning", indicating a potential cause for concern.

this may be alarming

Substitutes "might" with "may" and "worry" with "alarming", suggesting a stronger sense of potential distress.

this could raise concerns

Replaces "worry" with "raise concerns", shifting from a personal feeling to a more general expression of potential issues.

this could prove troublesome

Replaces "worry" with "prove troublesome", focusing on the potential for difficulties or problems.

this may give cause for concern

More formal and emphasizes the justification for potential worry.

this is a cause for apprehension

Uses "apprehension" for a more formal and intense feeling of worry.

this is potentially problematic

Shifts the focus to the potential problems arising from the situation.

this could be a red flag

Idiomatic expression indicating a potential danger or problem.

this warrants attention

Focuses on the need to pay attention to a potentially concerning issue.

this is cause for unease

Emphasizes the discomfort and anxiety that the situation may cause.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "this might worry" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "this may give cause for concern", "this could raise concerns", or "this warrants attention".

When is it appropriate to use "this might worry"?

Use "this might worry" when you want to express a potential concern or anxiety about a situation without asserting it as a definite outcome. It suggests a possibility of a negative impact.

What are some less formal alternatives to "this might worry"?

Less formal alternatives include phrases like "this could be concerning" or /s/this+may+be+alarming, depending on the level of intensity you want to convey.

What's the difference between "this might worry" and "this will worry"?

"This might worry" suggests a possibility or potential for concern, while "this will worry" expresses a higher degree of certainty that it will cause worry. The former is less assertive.