kind of unfortunate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of unfortunate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a mild sense of disappointment or regret about a situation. Example: "It’s kind of unfortunate that the event was canceled at the last minute."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

It's kind of unfortunate that Picabo gets all the attention".

The New York Times - Sports

Put this together, and the stakes of national rivalry make a kind of unfortunate sense.

University of California, Berkeley

"It's kind of unfortunate that Reverend Sharpton and other individuals haven't spoken out.

The New York Times

It's kind of unfortunate at times when people may say things.

The New York Times - Sports

"We have all the mechanism in the cease-fire that allows coordination and to prevent this kind of unfortunate incident," he said.

The New York Times

"It's kind of unfortunate if a state gets beaten up for having agencies that provide more information than others," Mr. Bresson said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Meet taro root, the potato's hairy, kind of unfortunate-looking cousin.

HuffPost

You can choose which kinds of unfortunate traffic events you want brought to your attention: road work, slow traffic, stopped traffic, accidents and so on.

The New York Times - Tech

Third, a critic of agents is quoted as stating, "When you deputize someone to represent you who doesn't eat unless he brings you warm bodies, you can expect all kinds of unfortunate practices".

The New York Times

Teenage angst can cause all kinds of unfortunate behaviour, but when schoolgirls tell their parents they want to join the fight in Syria and Iraq, then society has a serious problem.

The Guardian - Opinion

"When you deputize someone to represent you who doesn't eat unless he brings you warm bodies, you can expect all kinds of unfortunate practices," said Barmak Nassirian, an associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and one of the most outspoken critics of commissioned agents.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of unfortunate" to express mild disappointment or sympathy, especially when you want to soften the impact of negative news or opinions. For example: "It's kind of unfortunate that the meeting was canceled, but we can reschedule."

Common error

While "kind of unfortunate" is acceptable, overuse can dilute your writing's impact. Vary your language with stronger or more specific terms to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of unfortunate" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or situation to express a mitigated sense of misfortune or disappointment. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

11%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kind of unfortunate" is a commonly used phrase to express a mild degree of disappointment or regret. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and acceptability across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's important to consider the formality of the setting and choose more precise language where appropriate. By understanding its function and potential alternatives, you can effectively convey your intended sentiment while maintaining clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat unfortunate

Replaces "kind of" with "somewhat" offering a slightly more formal tone.

rather unfortunate

Substitutes "kind of" with "rather", indicating a slightly stronger degree of misfortune.

a bit unfortunate

Uses "a bit" instead of "kind of" for a more casual expression.

slightly unfortunate

Replaces "kind of" with "slightly" to convey a milder sense of misfortune.

a little unfortunate

Uses "a little" instead of "kind of" indicating a smaller degree of misfortune.

somewhat regrettable

Replaces "unfortunate" with "regrettable", focusing on the aspect of causing regret.

slightly disappointing

Substitutes "unfortunate" with "disappointing" shifting the focus to unmet expectations.

a shade unfortunate

Offers a more nuanced and less common way to say 'slightly unfortunate'.

mildly unfortunate

Emphasizes the mildness of the unfortunate situation.

regrettably

Concisely expresses regret about a situation, omitting the "kind of" modifier for brevity.

FAQs

What does "kind of unfortunate" mean?

The phrase "kind of unfortunate" expresses a mild sense of disappointment or regret about something. It suggests that a situation is not ideal, but not severely problematic.

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

You can use "kind of unfortunate" to soften bad news or express a less intense negative feeling. For instance, "It's "kind of unfortunate" that the event was postponed," indicates disappointment without strong negativity.

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

You can use alternatives like "somewhat unfortunate", "slightly disappointing", or "a bit unfortunate" depending on the context.

Is "kind of unfortunate" formal or informal?

"Kind of unfortunate" leans towards the informal side. In more formal settings, consider using "somewhat unfortunate" or another more direct expression of regret.