a sort of event

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sort of event" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is not a typical or specific event but shares some characteristics of an event. Example: "The gathering was a sort of event that brought together people from various backgrounds to discuss community issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In her 2012 memoir The Girl Who Fell To Earth, Qatar-born film-maker SophiAl-Mariaia, who has collaborated with Al Qadiri in the past, elaborates on her "Gulf futurism" theory: "If you think of history as something defined by the laws of physics, and the discovery of gas and oil wealth as a sort of event horizon from which there is no going back … what's happened is a wormhole stargate mindfuck".

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If you're having a convention or holding any sort of event, you'll want to contact companies that sell products related to the topic at hand.

WikiHow

They are in London, at an event called Seedcamp Week - a sort of networking event, venture capital competition and problem-solving session all rolled into one.

BBC

Richard Holloway, a former bishop of Edinburgh and now chair of the Scottish Arts Council, said: "It became a sort of watercooler event.

The Guardian

You've read so many faux-sociological rationalisation pieces about selfies that you reached a sort of codswallop event horizon.

The Guardian - Arts

"It has to do with the way a rock show is a sort of tribal event in our culture," he said.

Independent

The fact that H&M's designer collaborations are such big names means the latest launch becomes a sort of cultural event of its own.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Although we make fun of that idea again and again, I think that when people leave the theatre at the end they leave with the sense of having seen a sort of poetic event".

The New Yorker

MR: Did you guys intend for that to be a sort of sporting event anthem?

Huffington Post

Espresso foam has often been considered a sort of magic event with its fate linked to the experience of a skilled barista (coffee bar technician) instead of being the result of Chemistry and Physics.

Food Biophysics

When members of earlier generations wanted to capture images of events they wished to preserve for posterity, they did it by committing the event to memory, if a private sort of event, or to film, if a non-private event.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sort of event" when you want to describe something that shares qualities of a typical event but might not fully fit the conventional definition. It adds a touch of informality and acknowledges the approximate nature of the description.

Common error

Avoid using "a sort of event" repeatedly in your writing, as it can make your descriptions seem imprecise and lacking in detail. Try to be more specific about the nature of the event whenever possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sort of event" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It describes something as generally resembling an event, without being a precisely defined or conventional one. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sort of event" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe something that shares characteristics with an event but isn't precisely one. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. It's versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from news reports to scientific articles, though primarily in News & Media. When writing, it is best to use the phrase to be descriptive without being precise, but overuse may be avoided in favor of more descriptive wording.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a kind of happening

Replaces 'sort' with 'kind' and 'event' with 'happening', maintaining the same general meaning but with slightly different vocabulary.

a type of occasion

Substitutes 'sort' with 'type' and 'event' with 'occasion', offering a more formal alternative.

a form of activity

Replaces 'event' with 'activity', broadening the scope to include less structured occurrences.

a manner of celebration

Implies a festive or celebratory context, making it suitable for specific types of events.

a species of gathering

Offers a more formal and taxonomic way of describing an event as a specific type of gathering.

a brand of occurrence

Using "brand" makes it slightly informal and emphasizes the specific character or style of the event.

a flavor of incident

Substitutes event with "incident", can be used when describing unusual/infrequent events.

some variety of function

Replace "event" with "function". Suitable for contexts where the primary purpose is more emphasized than the social aspect.

an instance of happening

More generic terms making the phrase suitable for events that are not very specific or easily categorized.

an example of incidence

Changes "event" for "incidence" and is suitable for more formal or analytical contexts.

FAQs

What does "a sort of event" mean?

The phrase "a sort of event" refers to something that resembles an event but may not have all the typical characteristics. It implies an approximation or a more general category.

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

You might say, "The gathering was "a sort of event", bringing together friends and colleagues in an informal setting."

What can I say instead of "a sort of event"?

You can use alternatives like "a kind of happening", "a type of occasion", or "a form of activity" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "a kind of event" or "a sort of event"?

Both "a kind of event" and "a sort of event" are generally acceptable, but "a kind of event" might be perceived as slightly more formal. The choice often depends on personal preference and the overall tone of your writing.