Sort-Of-Kind-Of | Commonly Confused Words
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Master confusing words with ease

Sort of vs. Kind of

Sort of

/sɔːt ɒv/
Used to indicate that something is not exactly what was mentioned, but is similar or has a quality of it.

Examples:

It was sort of hard to explain her feelings at that moment.The movie was sort of okay, but not as good as expected.He felt sort of different after the long vacation away.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Kind of

/kaɪnd ɔv/
Used to indicate a moderate degree or as a hesitant acknowledgment

Examples:

This kind of behavior is unacceptable in the workplace.What kind of music do you like to listen to when relaxing?I wasn't sure what kind of gift to bring to the party.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Sort of is often used in informal speech to indicate something is somewhat true or something resembles but doesn't fully meet an idea or expectation.
  • Kind of is interchangeable with sort of in most contexts, especially in informal American English, meaning it shares similar usage.
  • Remember sort of is slightly more common in British English, while kind of is more frequently used in American English.
  • Thanks to globalization, both terms can be used interchangeably in most English-speaking regions without confusion.
  • While sort of might sometimes imply a more indirect or less emphatic admission, kind of often carries a slightly more casual tone.
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