nothing of that sort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'nothing of that sort' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something is not the case or didn't happen. For example: "I was worried that he had forgotten our appointment, but thankfully, it turns out that nothing of that sort had occurred."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Nothing of that sort happened.

Huffington Post

Newcastle have nothing of that sort.

Independent

Happily, nothing of that sort came through.

The New York Times - Arts

In my case, there was nothing of that sort.

The Guardian - Music

There was nothing of that sort under Kennedy: he simply chaired its proceedings impartially.

The Guardian - Opinion

So nothing of that sort [Singh and Ali taking training], it's been business as usual".

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

football, nothing of the sort that occurs at some places and serves to indict a whole program.

The New York Times - Magazine

She carried a large tote bag, but nothing of the sort that I haven't lugged around myself on occasion.

Huffington Post

But President Afwerki did nothing of the sort, assuming that he could outlast the EU's anger.

The Guardian

In truth, it's nothing of the sort, and that fact may cause trouble on the way out.

The Guardian - Business

Meanwhile, those of us who tried to think it through concluded that nothing of the sort would happen — and it didn't.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nothing of that sort" to clearly negate a specific action, event, or condition that has been previously mentioned or implied. This phrase is particularly effective in formal and neutral contexts where clarity and precision are important.

Common error

Avoid using "nothing of that sort" in overly broad or ambiguous contexts. Ensure that the "sort" being negated is clearly understood by the audience to prevent misinterpretations. For example, instead of saying "There was chaos, but nothing of that sort happened here", be specific about what "sort" of chaos you're referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nothing of that sort" functions as a negation or denial of a previously mentioned or implied situation, event, or characteristic. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct. Examples on Ludwig show it effectively refutes assumptions or expectations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nothing of that sort" is a useful phrase for negating something that has been previously mentioned or implied. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly found in a range of formal and neutral contexts. It is used to clearly refute assumptions and assure the audience that a particular event or condition did not occur. While its alternatives like "nothing of the kind" or "nothing like that" offer slight variations in tone, the phrase remains a reliable choice for clear and direct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nothing like that

This alternative is more concise and informal.

nothing of the kind

This option emphasizes a stronger denial or contradiction.

not at all like that

This version provides more emphasis to the denial.

nothing to that effect

This phrase indicates that the outcome was different.

not in the least

This option offers a simple yet emphatic negation.

quite the contrary

This version introduces a direct opposition to a previous statement.

far from it

This alternative emphasizes the distance from an expected outcome.

not a bit

A brief and informal way to show disagreement.

nowise

This option introduces a more formal and archaic negation.

no such thing

A direct way to dispute that the thing being said exists.

FAQs

How to use "nothing of that sort" in a sentence?

You can use "nothing of that sort" to deny something previously mentioned or implied. For example, "I thought he would be angry, but "nothing of that sort" happened."

What can I say instead of "nothing of that sort"?

You can use alternatives like "nothing of the kind", "not at all like that", or "nothing like that" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "nothing of that sort" or "nothing of the sort"?

Both "nothing of that sort" and "nothing of the sort" are correct and commonly used, although "nothing of the sort" is slightly more frequent. The inclusion of "that" provides a more direct reference to the preceding statement.

What's the difference between "nothing of that sort" and "quite the contrary"?

"Nothing of that sort" generally denies a specific event or situation. "Quite the contrary", on the other hand, introduces a direct opposition or alternative to a previously stated idea or assumption.