a sort of community

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sort of community" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group of people or entities that share certain characteristics or interests, but may not fit the strict definition of a community. Example: "The online forum has developed into a sort of community where members support each other and share their experiences."

✓ Grammatically correct

Bioinformatics

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

As observed in many DREAM challenges, the aggregation of the predictions of all the teams improves the predictive power beyond that of any single method (G.Stolovitzky, personal communication), providing a sort of community wisdom that truly gives meaning to the notion of collaboration by competition.

Bioinformatics

The church also serves as a sort of community centre.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A sort of community policing, Internet style, is at work.

The New York Times - Tech

"It's a sort of community feeling that has been mostly lost.

The New York Times

Sue and her team saw a demand for a sort of community show garden.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But the bar is really nice and the people develop a sort of community.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Being a sort of community-spirited sort of person I decided to do both.

The Guardian

Here, adult males embody a sort of community-sanctioned authority, which gives them licence, among other privileges, to take responsibility for disciplining other people's children.

The Guardian - Opinion

That may sound a little counter-intuitive, but PlacePop is hoping that it will lead to a sort of community-led guerrilla campaign where users urge their favorite businesses to join PlacePop.

TechCrunch

The in-game communities could be integrated into iPhone apps by inserting a snippet of code, providing a sort of "community-on-demand" or community-as-a-service that could then be accessed from within the game and used to collaboratively develop guides, tips, reviews, and so on.

TechCrunch

And the risk of attack makes travel, running a business or any sort of community organizing or political campaigning dangerous.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sort of community" to describe groups that exhibit some, but not all, characteristics typically associated with traditional communities. It can indicate a looser or more informal association.

Common error

While "a sort of community" is acceptable, avoid using "sort of" excessively in your writing as it can weaken your message. Consider using more precise language to describe the group you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sort of community" functions as a noun phrase, where "sort of" acts as a pre-modifier, qualifying the noun "community". It implies an approximation or informal categorization, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a sort of community" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe groups that share some, but not all, traits of a typical community. As Ludwig AI confirms, it suggests a looser or more informal association. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academia, the phrase conveys an approximation or qualifier. When writing, remember to use "a sort of community" to accurately depict groups that don't fully embody traditional community structures, and be mindful of avoiding overuse of "sort of" to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a type of community

Replaces "sort" with "type", suggesting a specific category or kind of community.

a kind of community

Uses "kind" instead of "sort", implying a particular form or variety of community.

a form of community

Emphasizes the structure or arrangement of the community.

a sense of community

Highlights the feeling of belonging and connection within a group.

a semblance of community

Suggests that the community may not be genuine or complete.

a spirit of community

Focuses on the shared values and ideals that unite a community.

an element of community

Focuses on a specific aspect or component that contributes to the sense of community.

a feeling of belonging

Highlights the feeling of being part of a community.

a collective group

Highlights the communal nature of a group with shared interests or goals.

a social network

Refers to a structure of individuals connected by various social relationships.

FAQs

How can I use "a sort of community" in a sentence?

You can use "a sort of community" to describe a group that shares some characteristics of a traditional community, but may lack others. For example, "The online forum became "a sort of community" for writers seeking feedback."

What is a more formal alternative to "a sort of community"?

More formal alternatives could include "a type of association", "a form of collectivity", or "a nascent social group" depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is "a sort of community" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a sort of community" is grammatically correct. The phrase uses "sort of" as a qualifier, indicating an approximation or loose categorization, which is a common and acceptable usage.

What's the difference between "a sort of community" and "a strong community"?

"A sort of community" implies a weaker or less defined community, while "a strong community" suggests a well-established and tightly-knit group. The former indicates a potential or emerging community, while the latter suggests an established and cohesive one.