kinda

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'kinda' is a valid word in written English, especially when speaking informally.
For example, you can use it when writing a casual email or text message like this: Hey, what's up? Kinda bored today, so I thought I'd reach out.

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

People think that they want to be fit, but they kinda have to work," he says.

The Guardian - Tech

It strains credibility to suggest that it's all because McGee is a deal-doing kinda guy at a moment when the head of Barclays Americas should be a specialist in regulation.

The Guardian - Business

There's one song that I was kinda, uh …" – Clarkson pauses delicately – "but it's not a bad song.

The Guardian - Music

"At the time I wrote the movie, I was feeling kinda dark, feeling maybe that I was turning into somebody I didn't like.

The Guardian - Film

Favourite quote: "The same fuckups in the same shit detail working out of the same shithouse kinda office.

The Guardian

"Maybe when you're leaning forward and writing, the Evernote experience kinda zooms in and it's a totally clean screen where you're just writing, but when you finish the sentence and sit back, it zooms out, and now it's starting to pull in other information that's related to helping you understand what you've just done, and putting it into the broader perspective," he says.

The Guardian - Tech

I'm not the rowing kinda guy myself - why waste a good meal - and prefer to walk off, but Jan has a far more interesting approach.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, her disjointed 33-minute speech – in which she described President Barack Obama as an "overgrown little boy who is acting kinda spoiled", and declared "the man can only ride you when your back is bent" – received poor reviews even from some conservatives.

The Guardian

I Did It Again featuring Britney herself and a delicate re-imagining of 2 Shoes' poignant cover of Girls Aloud's Something Kinda Ooooh.

The Guardian - Music

Turns out I just kinda want your knowledge in this document.

The Guardian - Tech

Palin's speech, in which she described President Barack Obama as an "overgrown little boy who is acting kinda spoiled", received poor reviews from several conservative commentators, while Republican operatives cast doubt on her latest claim to be considering a presidential campaign of her own.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kinda" in informal writing and speech to maintain a conversational tone. Avoid in formal documents or academic papers.

Common error

Avoid using "kinda" in professional emails, reports, or academic papers. Opt for more formal alternatives like "somewhat" or "relatively" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "kinda" is as an adverb or qualifier, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate approximation. Ludwig AI confirms its informal nature with various examples from news and media.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

6%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Kinda" is an informal contraction of "kind of", used primarily to soften statements and indicate approximation. Ludwig AI categorizes it as acceptable but highlights its informality. While very common in everyday speech and media, it should be avoided in formal writing, where alternatives like "somewhat" or "relatively" are more appropriate. The examples provided by Ludwig offer a comprehensive view of its usage, emphasizing its role in creating a conversational tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kind of

The full form of the contraction, suitable for slightly more formal situations.

sort of

Similar in meaning and usage, providing a slight degree of uncertainty or approximation.

somewhat

More formal alternative, suggesting a degree of something without being precise.

rather

More formal than "kinda", implying a moderate degree.

a bit

Indicates a small amount or degree.

slightly

Suggests a minimal amount or degree.

pretty much

Indicates that something is largely or almost completely the case.

to some extent

Formal phrase meaning partially or in some ways.

relatively

Implies a comparison to something else, indicating a degree in relation to that.

in a way

Expresses that something is true or accurate in a limited sense.

FAQs

How can I use "kinda" in a sentence?

"Kinda" is typically used to soften a statement or indicate approximation, as in "I'm "kinda tired"" or "It's "kinda cold" outside."

What's the difference between "kinda" and "kind of"?

"Kinda" is the shortened, informal version of "kind of". "Kind of" is slightly more formal, but both serve the same purpose of softening a statement.

When should I avoid using "kinda"?

Avoid using "kinda" in formal writing, academic papers, or professional communications. Use more formal alternatives like "somewhat", "rather", or "relatively".

What can I say instead of "kinda"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "sort of", "somewhat", "a little", or "pretty much".