Concerning?

Question

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

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I know there are a few language/grammar experts on this group. Will someone please set me straight on the present ... night I heard someone say: "It is a concerning problem," meaning it is a worrying problem. Is this correct usage?[/nq]
No, not really.
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I know there are a few language/grammar experts on this group. Will someone please set me straight on the present ... I heard someone say: "It is a concerning problem," meaning it is a worrying problem. Is this correct usage? Ker[/nq]
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.'

Concerning?

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