assortment of interests

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assortment of interests" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a variety of different interests that someone has, often in a context where diversity of interests is being highlighted. Example: "Her assortment of interests includes painting, hiking, and learning new languages."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

She has a polymath's assortment of interests and skills – pile "accomplished playwright" on to her résumé with the geochemistry degree.

The Guardian - Books

Mr. Jackson brought together an unusual assortment of interests: blacks, Midwestern farmers, leaders of two large labor unions and others.

The New York Times

The blocks allow users to use sensors, run motors, change LED colors, change the robot face, play music, and trigger robot animations, appealing to an assortment of interests children may have.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But Brij Lal, another professor at the University of the South Pacific and an author of the 1997 multiracial Constitution, describes Mr. Speight as "a convenient front man for an assortment of interests," including military leaders and ambitious Fijian politicians who would like to run for office under a revised constitution.

The New York Times

An energetic undergraduate with clearer ideas about how to reshape society than how to organize her life, she tossed an assortment of interests — anthropology, women's studies, radical politics, environmental science, sculpture — into an ad hoc curriculum and wrote a senior thesis on ecofeminism.

Columbia University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Inevitably this takes much longer in big, diversified economies, where any change in the status quo involves difficult negotiations among an assortment of interest groups.Thanks to its nimbleness, Singapore has been able to score a number of successes against Hong Kong, its slower-moving rival.

The Economist

But there was also a less obvious contingent: an international assortment of business interests that used their influence to push for a deal.

The Guardian

The PopBot blocks appeal to an assortment of kids' interests, allowing them to use sensors, run motors, change LED colors, change the robot face, play music, and trigger robot animations.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Here's a band composed of four guys you'd expect to be at the bar when you get there each guy increasingly less like the other, with an unusual assortment of common interests.

Vice

But the ethics experts eyeing Trump's empire are now warning of many others, found among a vast assortment of foreign business interests never before seen in past presidencies.

The Washington Post

Some of these concerns include items pertaining to the criminal justice process, the formal and informal interplay between system components, problems and solutions experienced by various segments, innovative practices, policy development and implementation, evaluative research, the players engaged in these enterprises, and a wide assortment of other related interests.

Springer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's hobbies or passions, use "assortment of interests" to indicate a wide variety of pursuits, painting a picture of a well-rounded individual.

Common error

Avoid using "assortment of interests" when implying someone's interests are shallow or unfocused. Instead, emphasize the depth of knowledge within those interests to convey genuine passion and expertise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assortment of interests" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable. It describes a collection of diverse interests held by an individual or group.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assortment of interests" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe a variety of passions or hobbies. According to Ludwig, its function as a noun phrase serves to convey the breadth of someone's pursuits. While relatively rare in occurrence, it finds equal footing in News & Media and Academia. To enhance clarity, one should avoid implying superficiality and maintain focus on true passion/expertise. Consider using "variety of interests" or "range of interests" as alternative expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

variety of interests

Replaces "assortment" with "variety", emphasizing the diverse nature of the interests.

range of interests

Substitutes "assortment" with "range", highlighting the scope and breadth of the interests.

collection of interests

Uses "collection" instead of "assortment", suggesting a gathering of different interests.

mix of interests

Replaces "assortment" with "mix", implying a blend or combination of interests.

spectrum of interests

Uses "spectrum" to convey a wide array of interests across a continuum.

diversity of interests

Substitutes "assortment" with "diversity", emphasizing the varied nature of the interests.

array of interests

Replaces "assortment" with "array", indicating an organized arrangement of interests.

combination of interests

Highlights the act of combining various interests into a cohesive whole.

blend of interests

Similar to mix, but emphasizes the seamless merging of different interests.

gamut of interests

Emphasizes the complete range of interests from one extreme to another.

FAQs

How can I use "assortment of interests" in a sentence?

You can use "assortment of interests" to describe someone who has many different hobbies or passions. For example, "Her assortment of interests includes painting, hiking, and learning new languages."

What's a good alternative to "assortment of interests"?

Alternatives to "assortment of interests" include "variety of interests", "range of interests", or "mix of interests".

Is it correct to say "a wide assortment of interest" instead of "assortment of interests"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "assortment of interests", where "interests" is plural, reflecting multiple interests.

What does it mean when someone is described as having an "assortment of interests"?

It means they have a diverse and varied set of hobbies, passions, or areas of knowledge. It suggests they are engaged in multiple different pursuits.