kind of sorcery

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of sorcery" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that seems magical or extraordinary, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The way she solved the complex problem in minutes felt like a kind of sorcery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Kaká's magic is not the kind of sorcery born of flashy moves and baroque touches.

The Guardian - Sport

Food in the right hands can be a kind of sorcery, and its magic can vex as well as bewitch.

The New York Times

The fire investigators who fingered Willingham relied on the kind of sorcery that fire scientists have tried for the past 20 years to chase from the field.

The New York Times

They put letters together to form words and they put words together to form sentences, and that's how writing happens -- it's a kind of sorcery".

The New York Times

What kind of sorcery keeps their cheeks blister-free?

Huffington Post

It's a remarkable kind of sorcery that I'm really happy to have been behind the wand of.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

A successful example of this kind of intellectual sorcery came in a series of cases in the nineteen-nineties, when Jay Sekulow engineered a change in the law of religious expression in public places.

The New Yorker

Bennett Miller's film "Capote" portrays its title character as a consummate seducer: before Capote can repurpose the narrative tricks of the novel to beguile the unsuspecting reader, he must first get the story, by persuading ornery, suspicious Kansans to open up to him through a kind of velvet sorcery.

The New Yorker

5,000 British witches and wizards, calling themselves "mediums" and organized in the Spiritualists National Union, are campaigning for the abolition of the Witchcraft Act of 1732 which provides that "if any person or persons shall pretend to exercise or use any kind of witchcraft, sorcery, Inchantment, or conjuration, every person so offending shall suffer imprisonment".

The New Yorker

This guy will use the dog filter about as often as cross trainer girl but while the latter should know better, the former is just endearingly wondering what kind of fucking sorcery this is.

Vice

It focuses on anyone who "fraudulently" gets paid to tell fortunes, "pretends to exercise or to use any kind of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment, or conjuration," or using their "skill in or knowledge of an occult or crafty science" to find where lost things are.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of sorcery" when you want to express a sense of wonder or disbelief at a particular skill, ability, or phenomenon that seems almost magical or unexplainable.

Common error

While "kind of sorcery" can be evocative, avoid using it in formal writing or professional contexts where a more precise or literal description is more appropriate. In such cases, opt for terms like "remarkable skill" or "exceptional talent".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of sorcery" functions as a noun phrase, often used figuratively. It describes something that seems magical or inexplicable. Ludwig AI examples show it applied to diverse areas like cooking, sports, and writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "kind of sorcery" is a flexible noun phrase used to express wonder or disbelief toward something extraordinary. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, though its informal register makes it more suitable for creative or descriptive writing than formal academic contexts. Consider alternatives like ""sort of magic"" or "remarkable skill" depending on your intended audience and tone. While versatile, avoid overuse in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sort of magic

Replaces "sorcery" with a more common and less intense term, "magic".

type of wizardry

Substitutes "sorcery" with "wizardry", which implies skill and knowledge, and "kind" with "type".

some kind of enchantment

Replaces "sorcery" with "enchantment", conveying a sense of wonder and mystery.

a touch of magic

Uses "touch" to soften the intensity, implying a subtle but effective skill.

a hint of wizardry

Similar to "a touch of magic", this suggests a subtle, skillful influence.

an element of mystique

Shifts the focus to the mysterious quality of the phenomenon.

a bit of hocus pocus

An informal and playful way to describe something seemingly magical or deceptive.

unexplainable phenomenon

Focuses on the lack of explanation, rather than implying magical skill.

remarkable skill

Emphasizes the skill involved, rather than any magical aspect.

extraordinary ability

Highlights the exceptional nature of the ability in question.

FAQs

How can I use "kind of sorcery" in a sentence?

You can use "kind of sorcery" to describe a skill or phenomenon that seems almost magical. For example, "The chef's ability to transform simple ingredients into a gourmet meal felt like a "sort of magic"".

What can I say instead of "kind of sorcery"?

You can use alternatives like ""sort of magic"", "type of wizardry", or "remarkable skill" depending on the context.

Is "kind of sorcery" formal or informal?

"Kind of sorcery" leans towards the informal side, often used in creative or descriptive contexts. For formal situations, consider more precise or literal alternatives.

What does "kind of sorcery" imply?

"Kind of sorcery" implies a sense of wonder, disbelief, or extraordinary skill. It suggests that something is happening that seems beyond ordinary explanation.