sort of irritating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sort of irritating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a mild annoyance or frustration about something without being overly harsh. Example: "The constant noise from the construction site is sort of irritating, especially when I'm trying to concentrate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I will revise [my estimates] because First Call has seen fit to remove the estimates of analysts who haven't, which is sort of irritating," says Terry Ragsdale of J.P. Morgan, who had maintained his earnings per share estimate of 70 cents.

Forbes

I was the sort of irritating child who used school art classes to make anti-smoking propaganda".

The Guardian

I could probably just about have forgiven this sort of irritating blunder if one of the guilty parties hadn't been a City law firm.

Independent

"He already struck me as a bit unpleasant anyway, in a Stuart Broad sort of irritating way, but his rudeness to the Windies made him just seem nasty tosser".

The Guardian - Sport

(If anything, the absence of communication may even be an asset in the modeling world. Mr. Phang says to a photographer, "It's kind of nice working with deaf girls because there's not those sort of irritating questions".) Even the judges, and one uses a wheelchair, are torn about their mandate.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I try to not be that kind of irritating.

Huffington Post

That sort of thing irritates me, but we don't tend to argue.

The Guardian

This sort of talk irritated Mr. Phillips, who denied that before Presley he had said he could make a million dollars if he could find a white man who sang black rhythms with a black feel -- an oft-reported statement.

The New York Times - Arts

"I kind of irritated him and he irritated me.

Los Angeles Times

Al-Afghani was a wild fellow, an early fundamentalist of the prickliest sort who irritated many of his fellow Muslims; so they did not pay much attention to his Luther idea.

The Economist

Black later described Vala as "a new, weird element", "irritating", "very vibrant", "sort of the hair-pulling variety", "really infuriating" and "[hopefully] funny".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sort of irritating" to express mild annoyance without being overly critical or harsh. This allows you to convey your feelings in a polite way.

Common error

Avoid using "sort of irritating" repeatedly in your writing or speech. Overuse can make you sound passive-aggressive or indecisive. Try varying your language with stronger or more specific adjectives if the situation warrants it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sort of irritating" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It qualifies the degree of irritation, indicating it's not severe. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sort of irritating" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to express a mild level of annoyance or frustration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for use in neutral contexts like news articles and blogs. While not highly formal, it's a useful phrase for conveying feelings without being overly critical. Consider alternatives like "slightly annoying" or "somewhat bothersome" for similar meanings. Be mindful of overuse, and tailor your language to the specific situation to maintain effective and nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kind of annoying

Uses "kind of" instead of "sort of", a common synonym.

a bit irritating

Replaces "sort of" with "a bit", indicating a slight degree.

a tad irritating

Replaces "sort of" with "a tad", meaning slightly.

slightly annoying

Replaces "irritating" with "annoying" and "sort of" with "slightly", indicating a minor level of bother.

mildly irritating

Replaces "sort of" with "mildly", intensifying the irritation slightly.

somewhat bothersome

Substitutes "irritating" with "bothersome" and "sort of" with "somewhat", suggesting a mild inconvenience.

a little frustrating

Replaces "irritating" with "frustrating" and "sort of" with "a little", implying a sense of being held back or prevented.

slightly vexing

Substitutes "irritating" with "vexing" and "sort of" with "slightly", implying a minor level of frustration or worry.

somewhat frustrating

Substitutes "irritating" with "frustrating" and "sort of" with "somewhat", suggesting a mild frustration.

marginally annoying

Substitutes "sort of" with "marginally" and replaces "irritating" with "annoying" implying a very slight level of annoyance.

FAQs

What does "sort of irritating" mean?

The phrase "sort of irritating" means something is mildly annoying or bothersome but not significantly so. It expresses a weak or moderate degree of irritation.

How can I use "sort of irritating" in a sentence?

You can use "sort of irritating" to describe something that mildly bothers you. For example, "The constant humming of the refrigerator is "sort of irritating" when I'm trying to work."

What can I say instead of "sort of irritating"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly annoying", "somewhat bothersome", or "a little frustrating" to express a similar sentiment.

Is "sort of irritating" formal or informal?

"Sort of irritating" is generally considered informal. In more formal settings, you might choose a more precise or stronger term, such as "somewhat disruptive" or "slightly vexing".