marker of sorts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marker of sorts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something serves as a type of marker or indicator, but not in a definitive or traditional sense. Example: "The new policy is a marker of sorts for the company's shift towards sustainability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It was a marker, of sorts.

The New York Times

Her legacy, after all, is an epistemological marker of sorts: proof of the real existence of the mind's eye.

The New Yorker

She uses her boyfriend, Buck Collins, a former member of American Ballet Theater, as a marker of sorts.

The New York Times - Arts

Imagine a louse not as a repulsive human pest (this may take some doing) but as a scientific marker of sorts.

The New York Times

This tract, which was sent out by a key supporter of Sigwalt and Humpfer, and with the knowledge of Humpfer, became a marker of sorts, a moment when the wedge was driven so deep (one resident told me, "It's kind of like the Grand Canyon") that there would be no easy reconciliation.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It was a poetic marker of sort for me, a moment when information stored in physical space found passage into the electronic ether, rendering things like library reference cards and answering machines obsolete.

Huffington Post

FYVE-GFP, a marker of sorting endosomes which also localizes to multivesicular endosomes [72], [76], surrounded SBD-TMR in some cases, and colocalization at moderate levels encompassed a longer time frame from a presumptive sorting compartment (30 min; 30 35%) to late endosomal compartments (1.5 2 h; ∼25 30%)(fig. 6C, D).

Plosone

It is a marker of a sort in the unfolding campaign.

The New York Times

It was a heap of earth, pebbles all through it like rough gems, no marker of any sort, already settling down to anonymity.

The New Yorker

But individuals were not: "Sexual misbehavior was not a marker of some sort of constitutional difference but merely evidence of temptation unsuccessfully resisted".

The New York Times - Health

After 1 h incubation, confocal microscopy of fixed and immunostained NALM6 cells showed that the majority of internalized Waz 3WJdB Cy3 was within endosomes containing Rab5, a marker of early (sorting) endosomes58 (Fig. 4d).

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "marker of sorts" to indicate something acts as a sign or indicator, but not in a definitive or conventional way. This suggests nuance or a non-traditional application of the marker.

Common error

Avoid using "marker of sorts" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can dilute its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Opt for more precise language when possible to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marker of sorts" functions as a noun phrase that describes something as a type of indicator or sign, but in a non-definitive or less precise way. It implies that the "marker" is not a perfect or complete representation, but rather an approximation. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "marker of sorts" serves as a nuanced way to describe something as a type of indicator, without definitive precision. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. While it appears more frequently in News & Media and Science sources, its register remains relatively neutral. Related phrases, such as "kind of indicator" or "rough indicator", offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Remember to use "marker of sorts" judiciously to maintain its impact and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a rough indicator

Replaces "marker" with "indicator" and "of sorts" with "rough", maintaining the sense of approximation.

kind of indicator

Replaces "marker" with "indicator" and simplifies "of sorts" to "kind of" emphasizing the indicative nature.

a loose gauge

Uses "gauge" instead of "marker" and "loose" instead of "of sorts", conveying a less precise measurement.

a general indication

Replaces marker with "indication" and specifies it as "general", highlighting a broader, less specific signal.

some type of sign

Uses "sign" instead of "marker" and clarifies the ambiguity with "some type of".

a signal of a kind

Swaps "marker" for "signal" and changes "of sorts" to "of a kind", keeping the meaning relatively close.

a form of indication

Emphasizes the act of indicating rather than the object itself.

something that suggests

Highlights the suggestive nature of the marker, focusing on implication.

an approximate guide

Shifts the focus to guidance instead of marking, implying a rough direction.

a symbolic representation

Emphasizes the symbolic quality, suggesting a deeper meaning beyond a simple marker.

FAQs

How can I use "marker of sorts" in a sentence?

You can use "marker of sorts" to describe something that loosely indicates or represents something else, without being a definitive sign. For example, "The decline in sales is a "marker of sorts" of deeper economic issues".

What phrases are similar to "marker of sorts"?

Similar phrases include "kind of indicator", "rough indicator", or "general indication". These alternatives convey a similar sense of something being an approximate or non-definitive sign.

Is "marker of sorts" formal or informal?

"Marker of sorts" is generally considered neutral in formality. It can be used in both informal and some formal contexts, although more precise language might be preferable in highly formal writing.

What's the difference between "marker of sorts" and "clear indicator"?

"Marker of sorts" suggests an approximate or less definitive sign, whereas "clear indicator" implies a strong and unambiguous sign. The former is used when something hints at something else, while the latter is used when something directly points to something else.