were concerned for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were concerned for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing worry or care about someone's well-being or situation. Example: "The teachers were concerned for the students' safety during the storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Staff said they were concerned for the boy's safety.

The Guardian

Police were concerned for her safety after she gave them substantial information about Jarrah.

The Guardian

"But instead people were concerned for my safety and asking me if everything was O.K".

The New York Times

They were concerned for our welfare, and we were treated well during most of it".

The New York Times

The jurors were concerned for the future of the girl, who testified at the trial, Mr. Rubalsky said.

The New York Times

"The water was rising and running across the roadway rapidly and the troopers were concerned for these individuals' safety.

The Guardian

Fisher said people close to Young had told him they were concerned for his emotional well-being.

The New York Times

A family member spoke with the hiking blog Trailmob, and said that they were concerned for Nocket's safety.

The Guardian

"We were concerned for his welfare but never imagined that he would consider taking his own life," they said.

The Washington Post

His parents, mindful that he was involved in twice as many potentially concussive hits, were concerned for his safety.

The New York Times - Sports

The penny dropped as far as we were concerned for people to listen to good traditional Irish music.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were concerned for", ensure the context clearly indicates what or who is the object of concern. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid replacing "for" with prepositions like "about" or "with" as they slightly alter the meaning. While understandable, "concerned for" often implies a deeper level of care or responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were concerned for" functions as a predicate adjective, expressing a state of worry or care directed towards a specific person or thing. Ludwig shows this is often used to describe concern for someone's well-being or safety.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

15%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were concerned for" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey worry or care towards someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples demonstrating its use across various contexts. It often expresses empathy, anxiety, or responsibility. Usage is most frequent in news media and academic writing, with a neutral register making it suitable for diverse communication scenarios. To ensure clarity, always specify the object of concern, and be mindful of the subtle difference between "concerned for" and similar phrases like "concerned about".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

felt concern for

Replaces "were" with "felt" and "concerned" with "concern", focusing on the feeling of concern.

had worries about

Uses "worries" instead of "concern", emphasizing the anxiety aspect.

showed solicitude for

Employs a more formal term, "solicitude", indicating care or concern.

expressed anxiety about

Highlights the anxious aspect of concern.

were solicitous of

Highlights the caring and attentive nature of the concern.

had misgivings regarding

Indicates a sense of doubt or apprehension about something.

were apprehensive for

Replaces "concerned" with "apprehensive", suggesting a feeling of fear or dread.

displayed empathy towards

Focuses on showing understanding and compassion.

took an interest in

Indicates a caring attention and curiosity.

felt responsible for

Expresses a sense of duty or obligation to care for someone.

FAQs

How can I use "were concerned for" in a sentence?

Use "were concerned for" to express worry or care about someone's well-being or situation. For example, "The doctors "were concerned for" the patient's health".

What's a more formal way to say "were concerned for"?

A more formal alternative to "were concerned for" is to say "showed solicitude for", indicating deep care and attentiveness.

Is it correct to say "were concerned about" instead of "were concerned for"?

While "were concerned about" is also correct, "were concerned for" often implies a slightly deeper sense of responsibility or protectiveness. Both can be appropriate depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

What are some phrases similar to "were concerned for"?

You can use alternatives like "felt concern for", "expressed anxiety about", or "had worries about" depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.