Concerning?

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Lorna May - 28 Jan 2006 22:52 GMT

I know there are a few language/grammar experts on this group.
Will someone please set me straight on the present use of the word
'concerning'. Last night I heard someone say: "It is a concerning problem,"
meaning it is a worrying problem. Is this correct usage?
Ker

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Einde O'Callaghan - 29 Jan 2006 01:20 GMT

> I know there are a few language/grammar experts on this group.
> Will someone please set me straight on the present use of the word
> 'concerning'. Last night I heard someone say: "It is a concerning problem,"
> meaning it is a worrying problem. Is this correct usage?

No, not really.
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

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John Ramsay - 29 Jan 2006 07:27 GMT

Concern is a synonym for worry but concerning has a
specialized usage, meaning relating to/about
e.g. Concerning your recent question we offer the
following information.

The specialized meaning seems to rule out using concerning as a
synonym for worrying.

As for 'it is a worrying problem', idiom takes over. It's more
correct to say it is a 'worrisome problem ' or even it's
'a matter for/of concern.'

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / January 2006

Concerning?