big sort of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "big sort of" is not standard in written English and may be considered informal or colloquial.
It can be used in casual conversation or informal writing to express a vague or approximate idea of size or importance. Example: "It's a big sort of challenge, but I think we can handle it."

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

I have big, sort of awkward hands.

The New York Times - Magazine

Election Day was a big sort of celebration day.

Yale University

It's a big sort of sprawling — gardens everywhere.

Yale University

"He saw it in a big sort of distant way," Kerry said.

The New Yorker

"The first day of school, at drop-off, is the big sort of kickoff.

The New York Times

That's one of the big sort of debates that seems to happen every graduation season.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

"I think that's a bigger sort of philosophical question," he said.

The New York Times

All that attention led people to believe that Holmes fan art was a "much bigger sort of movement" than it was, Phillips argues.

The Washington Post

Fawcett: Kira has always been an important aspect of the show for Graeme and I, and there is sort of bigger, sort of critical story questions about Kira's biology and what she's capable of. .

Los Angeles Times

"You got the brunt of the bigger sort of narrative that I don't want the show to take on," Barris told the writer who asked the original question.

Huffington Post

The panel included Robert Lang of Virginia Tech; Ruy Teixeira of the Center for American Progress; William Frey of the Brookings Institution; Bill Bishop, a Texas writer and author of "The Big Sort"; Scott Keeter of the Pew Research Center; and Ronald Brownstein of Atlantic Media.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "big sort of", consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing. It's suitable for informal contexts but may need a more precise alternative in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "big sort of" in formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more precise and professional language such as "relatively large" or "considerably significant" to maintain a polished and credible tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "big sort of" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun to indicate approximate size or significance. It adds a degree of vagueness to the description. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is acceptable, but informal.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

23%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "big sort of" serves as an informal way to express approximation or vagueness regarding size or significance. While acceptable and commonly used, especially in news and media contexts and informal conversations, Ludwig AI reminds us that it might not be the best choice for formal writing, where precision is valued. Alternatives like "kind of big", "somewhat large", or "relatively large" can offer a more refined tone depending on the specific context and intended audience. Understanding these nuances allows for more effective and context-appropriate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kind of big

This alternative replaces "sort of" with "kind of", maintaining the same level of informality and approximation.

pretty big

Uses "pretty" instead of "sort of" to modify "big", keeping it informal.

somewhat large

This option replaces "big" with "large" and "sort of" with "somewhat", making it slightly more formal.

quite large

Replaces "big" with "large" and uses "quite" for a slightly more formal tone.

relatively large

This phrase offers a more formal and precise way to express that something is larger than average.

considerably large

Emphasizes the size as being noteworthy and larger than usual.

fairly significant

This alternative shifts the focus from size to importance, conveying that something is reasonably significant.

appreciably large

Suggests the largeness is easily noticed or measured.

moderately large

Indicates a size that is more than average but not extremely big.

largish

A simple and informal term meaning somewhat large.

FAQs

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

You can use "big sort of" to describe something that is relatively large or significant, as in "It was a "kind of big" deal for them" or "They faced a "somewhat large" challenge".

What phrases can I use instead of "big sort of"?

Alternatives include "kind of big", "somewhat large", or "relatively large", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is "big sort of" grammatically correct?

While commonly used in spoken English, "big sort of" is considered informal. It's generally acceptable in casual conversation but may not be appropriate for formal writing.

What's the difference between "big sort of" and "relatively large"?

"Big sort of" is more colloquial and less precise than "relatively large". The latter is more suitable for formal contexts where accuracy and professionalism are important.