universal concern for

USAGE SUMMARY

"universal concern for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a shared feeling of worry or anxiety about a particular issue or situation. For example, "The environmental crisis has sparked a universal concern for the future of our planet."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Mohists were deeply committed to the ideal of a harmonious, peaceful social order and to universal concern for the welfare of "all under heaven".

SEP

But if, as Hawkins contends, there is no logical reason to assume that machine intelligence will become self-replicating or possess "human-like desires," then why the universal concern for regulation?

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There is universal concern over the potential for negative genetic interactions between farmed escaped fish and their wild counterparts (Genimpact 2006).

Animal Genetics

From one night to the next, I could not wait to find out what was going to happen, as the characters ceased to be silly giants, dwarves and Valkyries in my mind but instead powerful and passionate vessels for every universal concern– love, loss, grief, family, power, how to live, how to die.

BBC

It’s a very exciting time, but when colleges start up again this fall, parents and students will share a universal concern: How will we afford to pay for it?

Forbes

"The play is more a treasure trove for Albee scholars and biographers than something of universal concern".

The Guardian

We need to identify with her and root for her, page after page, so it should be a universal concern: success, love, death, survival, freedom, revenge, justice.

The Guardian

It's a universal concern".

The New York Times

For astronomers, the transition from analog to digital was, in both senses of the phrase, a universal concern.

Johns Hopkins University

Five areas of almost universal concern stood out.

Forbes

Staffing problems are a universal concern.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "universal concern for" to highlight issues that affect everyone, emphasizing the shared responsibility in addressing them. For example, "There is a "universal concern for" environmental sustainability, prompting global action."

Common error

Avoid using "universal concern for" when the concern is not truly global or shared by the vast majority. Instead, consider phrases like "growing concern" or "widespread concern" if the worry is significant but not genuinely universal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "universal concern for" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a shared worry or anxiety related to a specific issue.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "universal concern for" is a noun phrase used to describe a widespread worry or anxiety shared by nearly everyone. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. It finds common usage across various contexts, including news, science, and formal communication. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the concern genuinely applies universally, or else a more nuanced phrase like "growing concern" might be more appropriate. Remembering these guidelines helps in effectively conveying the sense of shared responsibility and urging action. The most authoritative sources using this phrase are The Guardian, Forbes, The New York Times, and Huffington Post.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

global apprehension about

Replaces "concern" with "apprehension" and "universal" with "global", emphasizing a sense of unease on a worldwide scale.

widespread anxiety regarding

Substitutes "concern" with "anxiety" and "universal" with "widespread", highlighting the feeling of worry about something.

general worry about

Uses more common words like "worry" and "general" to convey a similar meaning of widespread concern.

common preoccupation with

Replaces "concern" with "preoccupation", suggesting a dominant or obsessive focus on something shared by many.

shared interest in

This phrase uses positive wording and conveys the common concern as a shared interest.

collective unease over

Emphasizes the group aspect of concern with "collective" and highlights a feeling of discomfort or anxiety.

broad interest in

Uses "interest" to replace "concern", softening the negative connotation while still implying a widespread focus.

prevailing sentiment about

Replaces "concern" with "sentiment", suggesting a widespread feeling or opinion regarding something.

societal anxiety for

Emphasizes society's concern about something.

public mindfulness of

Indicates people being aware about something.

FAQs

How can I use "universal concern for" in a sentence?

Use "universal concern for" to describe a worry or anxiety shared by almost everyone, such as, "There is a "universal concern for" access to clean water and sanitation."

What phrases are similar to "universal concern for"?

Similar phrases include "global apprehension about", "widespread anxiety regarding", or "general worry about".

Is "universal concern for" formal or informal?

"Universal concern for" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is most appropriate in situations where you want to emphasize the widespread nature of a worry or anxiety. Consider your audience and the specific context to determine if it's the right choice.

What's the difference between "universal concern for" and "general concern for"?

"Universal concern for" implies that almost everyone shares the worry or anxiety, while "general concern for" suggests that the worry is widespread but not necessarily shared by the entire population.