a sort of democracy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sort of democracy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a system or situation that resembles democracy but may not fully embody its principles or characteristics. Example: "The country operates under a sort of democracy, where elections are held, but the ruling party maintains significant control over the media."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

He has imposed a sort of democracy.

The Economist

It brings a sort of democracy back to the Internet".

The New York Times - Tech

In theory, at least, the church even believes in a sort of democracy for itself.

The Guardian - Opinion

A bit like a Cabinet making decisions.... There's a sort of democracy going on inside each of us".

The New Yorker

For most of this week, it has looked as if Hosni Mubarak, like Farouk, would end his days in exile, taking with him his crown prince and his millions, and that something better — perhaps even a sort of democracy — would follow.

The New Yorker

Lingering in his mind, Mr. Winkler said, is the recent example of Algeria, which did become a sort of democracy, one in which a fundamentalist Islamic party won the first ever free elections, an event that led to years of bloody civil strife.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Now another cyberdream might be coming to an end: that the Internet will give rise to consensus-based self-regulation and even a sort of global democracy.

The Economist

Whatever else, this will be a fascinating experiment in a sort of participatory democracy involving a magazine's editors and readers.

The New York Times - Books

But they had different ideas about later events.Educated Romans liked to see their polity as a sort of secular democracy in which office-holders were responsible to the people and subject to frequent rotation.

The Economist

With a constitution that granted it sweeping powers, and a compliant parliament, the army could then preside over a sort of Potemkin democracy.The junta seems to have equally unreasonable plans in store for the ethnic minorities who make up 40% of Myanmar's population, and who dominate the country's border regions.

The Economist

So it's a sort of workers' democracy, but no one trusts each other to work, so you all keep checking round the corner and making half-jokes your own little Gestapo.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sort of democracy" when you want to convey that a system has some characteristics of democracy, but doesn't fully meet the criteria, or when being intentionally vague.

Common error

Avoid using "a sort of democracy" when the system in question demonstrably fails to uphold basic democratic principles. Opt for more accurate descriptions like "autocracy" or "dictatorship" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sort of democracy" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It qualifies the noun "democracy", suggesting a qualified or incomplete form of it. Ludwig examples show diverse applications in news and media and scientific domains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a sort of democracy" is a grammatically correct and usable noun phrase that describes a political system that exhibits some, but not all, characteristics of a full democracy. Ludwig AI confirms that its meaning suggests reservations about the degree to which democratic principles are upheld. The term appears most frequently in news and media contexts, and is considered to have a neutral register. When using the phrase, be mindful of the potential for misrepresentation and ensure it accurately reflects the system's characteristics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a kind of democracy

Direct synonym, interchangeable with the original phrase.

a partial democracy

Emphasizes the incompleteness or limited nature of the democratic system.

a limited democracy

Highlights restrictions on democratic practices or rights.

a quasi-democracy

Suggests a system that appears democratic but may not be in reality.

an emerging democracy

Focuses on the developmental aspect of a democratic system.

a flawed democracy

Acknowledges imperfections or problems within the democratic framework.

an imperfect democracy

Acknowledges faults and areas for improvement in the democratic system.

a nominal democracy

Emphasizes the superficial or symbolic nature of democracy.

a procedural democracy

Highlights adherence to democratic procedures without necessarily embodying democratic values.

a hybrid regime

Broader term describing a political system combining democratic and autocratic elements.

FAQs

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

You might say, "The country has implemented "a sort of democracy", with regular elections but limited freedom of the press".

What are some alternatives to "a sort of democracy"?

Consider using phrases like "a partial democracy", "a limited democracy", or "an emerging democracy" depending on the specific context.

Is "a sort of democracy" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a sort of democracy" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe systems that exhibit some, but not all, characteristics of a true democracy.

What's the difference between "a sort of democracy" and "a full democracy"?

"A sort of democracy" implies that the system has some democratic features but may lack key elements, while "a full democracy" suggests a system that meets all the standard criteria for democratic governance.