sort of plan

USAGE SUMMARY

'sort of plan' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to mean something that is not a thorough or detailed plan, or something that is more of a suggestion or idea than a plan. For example: "We don't have a concrete plan to save money yet, but we have a sort of plan that may help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Huffington Post

The New York Times

The Guardian

Vice

The Economist

BBC

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Some sort of plan is needed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Americans have trouble with that sort of plan.

The New York Times

This sort of plan might have worked miracles decades ago.

The New York Times

You've got to have some sort of plan set up.

The New York Times

Whether this sort of plan can work week to week remains to be seen.

The New York Times

Should you hide for one more year, or charge forward with some sort of plan?

The New York Times

Instead, legislative leaders said, lawmakers are working on the sort of plan Wall Street has sought.

The New York Times

Eventually, of course, we will have to have some sort of plan to guide future development.

The New York Times

"You have to have some sort of agenda, some sort of plan.

The New York Times

I don't know what sort of plan he has in place.

The New Yorker

Whatever they do, some sort of plan for a city's growth is better than no plan at all.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sort of plan" when you want to convey that a plan is not fully developed or concrete. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid it when precision is required.

Common error

While acceptable, overuse of "sort of plan" in formal documents can make your strategy sound weak. Opt for more precise terms like "preliminary strategy" or "developing framework" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sort of plan" functions as a qualifier, indicating that the "plan" being referenced is not fully formed, concrete, or detailed. It softens the commitment or certainty associated with having a definite plan. This aligns with Ludwig AI, which indicates its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Huffington Post

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

The New Yorker

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sort of plan" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a strategy that is not fully developed or concrete. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage across various sources, particularly in news and general media. While versatile, be mindful of the context and choose more precise terms in formal or scientific settings. Alternatives include "general idea", "rough strategy", or "basic outline", depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

general idea

Refers to a vague or unformed concept, lacking specific details.

rough strategy

Suggests a basic approach without precise execution steps.

basic outline

Implies a skeletal structure of a plan, missing finer points.

preliminary scheme

Indicates an initial, often unrefined, plan.

tentative arrangement

Shows a provisional setup subject to change.

vague intention

Highlights a lack of clarity and detail in the purpose.

undeveloped concept

Signals that the idea is still in its early stages.

half-baked idea

Conveys that the idea is poorly thought out or impractical.

loose framework

Signifies a flexible structure with room for adjustments.

initial draft

Specifies an early version needing revisions.

FAQs

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

You can use "sort of plan" to indicate that a strategy is not fully formed, such as, "We have a "sort of plan" to address the budget shortfall, but it needs further refinement".

What's a good alternative to "sort of plan"?

Alternatives to "sort of plan" include "general idea", "rough strategy", or "basic outline" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "sort of plan" in formal writing?

While not incorrect, using "sort of plan" in formal writing may come across as less professional. Consider using alternatives like "preliminary scheme" or "tentative arrangement" instead.

What does "sort of plan" imply about the plan itself?

"Sort of plan" implies that the plan is not yet fully developed, lacking in details, or subject to change. It suggests a level of uncertainty or flexibility in the approach.