widened concern about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widened concern about" is not standard in written English and may be confusing.
It could be used when discussing an increase in concern regarding a specific issue or topic. Example: "The recent events have widened concern about public safety in urban areas."

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Glazer-imposed £716m debts revealed at Manchester United, with £340m having gone out of the club in interest and fees since 2005, and Portsmouth's jaw-dropping insolvency, have certainly widened concern about the way football is run from a hardy corps of the well-informed to the mainstream.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

One case that triggered alarm involved Taylor Hooton, 17, of Plano, Tex., whose 2003 suicide widened concerns about high school students' use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The New York Times - Sports

The increasing opposition among Roman Catholic clergymen to the church's traditional defense of the status quo provided one clear sign of widening concern about the problem of social injustice in El Salvador.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I am deeply disappointed with the discussion and by your failure to recognise that the turmoil after the referendum vote, a likely autumn election, the responsibility to hold the Labour party together and the very wide – and ever widening – concerns about your leadership require a fresh leadership election.

The Guardian

Yet, as inequality has widened and concerns about it have grown, the competitive school, viewing individual returns in terms of marginal product, has become increasingly unable to explain how the economy works.

The Guardian - Business

In addition to widening our concerns about differences in access, scholars have also began to pay attention to the different ways people use the same technology, as well as what sorts of skills are required to make use of the technologies effectively.

Huffington Post

Shares of Digital Island Inc., a maker of audio and video transmission software, fell $6.5625, to $38.0625, yesterday after an analyst expressed concern about widening losses.

The New York Times

The Commission on SDH, set up by the World Health Organization to respond to the concern about widening inequities worldwide, has in its report called for action on SDH by improving daily living conditions; tackling the inequitable distribution of power, money, and resources; measuring and understanding the problem; and assessing the impact of action (7).

Global Health Action

"On the other hand, any plan to widen it raises concerns about drinking water safety.

The New York Times

Among Cubans of all races, there is growing concern about a widening economic divide that is also racial.

The New York Times

Some donors also expressed concern about a widening money imbalance between Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton Obamaa fund-raisers say he is taking in roughly $1 million a day, while Clinton fund-raisers say she is taking in about half of that, mostly online.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use stronger verbs such as "increased" or "heightened" to convey the growing concern more effectively. For example, prefer "increased concern about" to "widened concern about" for clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid relying on "widened" excessively in formal writing. While understandable, it can sound less polished than alternatives like "increased" or "heightened". Vary your word choice to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widened concern about" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun and a preposition, indicating an expansion or increase in worry regarding a specific subject. Ludwig suggests it's not a standard choice and provides alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widened concern about" signifies an expansion in worry or apprehension, often regarding issues of social, economic, or political significance. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests that it's not the most common or impactful phrasing; alternatives like "increased concern about" are often preferred. The phrase appears primarily in news and formal contexts and the "aiResponseStatus" from SEARCH_DATA highlights that it's not a standard choice in English writing. To enhance clarity and impact, consider using stronger verbs and varying your word choice to avoid overuse in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

growing worries regarding

Emphasizes the gradual increase in worries, using a different preposition.

increased apprehension concerning

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey a similar meaning.

broadening anxiety about

Focuses on the expansion of anxiety across different areas or groups.

intensified worries about

Focuses on the increase in worries about something

heightened anxiety over

Focuses on the intensification of anxiety related to something.

escalating fears about

Highlights the rising level of fear surrounding a topic.

expanding worries concerning

Uses "expanding" to indicate the increase in worries.

spreading unease regarding

Emphasizes the dissemination of unease to a larger group.

mounting unease regarding

Highlights the rising level of unease about something

growing disquiet over

Emphasizes the gradual increase in disquiet, using a different preposition.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "widened concern about"?

You can use alternatives like "increased concern about", "heightened concern about", or "growing concern about" depending on the context.

How can I use "widened concern about" in a sentence?

You can use "widened concern about" to indicate that the worry or apprehension regarding something has expanded. For example: "The scandal widened concern about ethical practices within the company."

Is "widened concern about" grammatically correct?

While grammatically understandable, "widened concern about" is not the most common or stylistically elegant choice. Alternatives like "increased concern about" are often preferred.

What is the difference between "widened concern about" and "increased concern about"?

"Widened concern about" suggests that the scope of the concern has expanded, whereas "increased concern about" simply indicates that the level of worry has grown. The latter is often a more direct and common way to express the idea.