sort of new

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sort of new" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat or partially new, often implying a degree of uncertainty or informality. Example: "The technology is sort of new, but it has already shown promising results in testing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Well, sort of new.

The Guardian

This is still sort of new.

The New York Times - Sports

IT SEEMS a strange sort of new year's resolution.

The Economist

We're sort of new to the Internet around here.

The New Yorker

The wrong sort of new Arab leadership will create the wrong sort of new Arab self-confidence.

The Economist

You don't have anything sort of new and flashy.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Introducing iTunes 9.0 – it's bright, it's shiny, and it's kind-of-sort-of new.

TechCrunch

"One is just a sort of newer, Americanized version of another".

The New York Times - Arts

Far from going fully off-piste he has become a sort of new-age raconteur.

Vice

— might create all sorts of new intelligences.

Harvard University

Rollerblades delivered all sorts of new functionalities.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sort of new" to convey a nuanced sense of novelty, implying that something is not entirely new but has elements of newness. This can soften claims and make them more relatable.

Common error

Avoid using "sort of new" in formal writing where precision is crucial. Instead, opt for more specific and professional alternatives like "relatively new" or "moderately new" to maintain a formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sort of new" functions as an adjectival modifier, qualifying a noun by indicating that it possesses a degree of newness, though not entirely. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and usability, as evidenced by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

11%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sort of new" is a versatile adjectival modifier used to indicate partial or relative newness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While acceptable in neutral and informal settings, more precise alternatives like "relatively new" or "moderately new" are recommended for formal writing. Remember to leverage "sort of new" when you need to express a nuanced sense of novelty, acknowledging that something isn't entirely new but still possesses recent characteristics. Avoid overusing it in formal contexts where clarity and precision are paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat new

Indicates a moderate degree of newness, suggesting it's not entirely new.

kind of new

Similar to the original phrase, but slightly more informal.

relatively new

Implies newness in comparison to something else.

moderately new

Suggests a medium level of newness.

partially new

Emphasizes that only a portion of something is new.

new to some extent

Formally expresses the idea that newness is present, but limited.

not entirely new

Highlights the lack of complete newness.

fresh to a degree

Indicates that something is fresh and unused, but only to a certain level.

newish

An informal and concise term to denote the quality of being almost new.

approaching newness

Implies a state that is close to being new, without fully attaining it.

FAQs

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

You can use "sort of new" to describe something that is not completely new but has elements of newness. For example, "The technology is "sort of new", but it has already shown promising results."

What are some alternatives to "sort of new"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "somewhat new", "relatively new", or "kind of new" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "sort of new" appropriate for formal writing?

While "sort of new" is acceptable in informal contexts, it's generally better to use more precise alternatives like "moderately new" or "partially new" in formal writing to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "sort of new" and "relatively new"?

"Sort of new" implies a general sense of newness, while "relatively new" suggests newness in comparison to something else. For example, "This model is "sort of new"" versus "This model is "relatively new" compared to the previous version."