sorting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sorting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to the act of arranging or organizing items, data, or information in a particular order. Example: "The sorting of the files took longer than expected, but it was necessary for better organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For all their moaning about Chinooks or body armour, they make the decisions on where to spend (and overspend) the money, sorting it out between themselves before going to elected ministers.

The Guardian - Opinion

How she set up the farm as a home for a group of young people from all over the world to work their summers tending the soil, gathering eggs, feeding the pigs and sorting salad leaves.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

With some sides having played seven fixtures and others three, the T20 Blast tables are still sorting themselves out, with Durham leading the North Group and Kent the South Group.

The Guardian - Sport

Sorting out those problems will take much more than a few lines of code.

The Guardian - Opinion

Given Ryan Murphy's involvement in The New Normal and American Horror Story – coupled with the decision to split time between theatre school in New York and the kids still in Lima, Ohio – I wouldn't bet on the latter sorting itself out anytime soon.

The Guardian

I've got to find a way of sorting it out," he said.

The Guardian

There is a crisis in the process and he has to play his leadership role in sorting it out.

The Guardian

HUMIN Android - FREE Humin is an interesting attempt to reinvent the humble contacts app, sorting the people you talk to and text in a smarter order than alphabetical.

The Guardian - Tech

In hindsight, the Better Together chief executive Blair McDougall described the YouGov polls as a "godsend": "Those two YouGov polls were the best thing that happened to the campaign in terms of making the economic risk real, in terms of energising activists and getting the parties to work through the painful process of sorting out this stuff," he said.

The Guardian

"There will be massive budget consequences elsewhere, for example the bill for sorting out the fly-tipping which will happen if bins aren't emptied.

The Guardian

Sorting out the billing for a play is an archaic and labyrinthine business, the rules of which are understood only by a very few: but basically, the more famous you are, the more you can hog the advertising and the light bulbs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sorting" in technical contexts, specify the criteria used for sorting (e.g., "sorting by date", "sorting by size").

Common error

Avoid using "sort" (the root of "sorting") interchangeably with "kind" in formal writing. Instead of saying "this sort of problem", use "this kind of problem" or "this type of problem".

Linguistic Context

The term "sorting" functions as a verb (present participle) or a noun, denoting the act of arranging items systematically. Ludwig provides examples such as "sorting it out" which shows its active use, while others show it referring to the act itself, which confirms it is a noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "sorting" is a versatile word used as both a verb and a noun, primarily to describe the act of arranging, categorizing, or resolving. As verified by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news, business, and technical fields. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to avoid using "sort" as a direct synonym for "kind" in more formal writing. For alternatives, consider using "arranging", "organizing", or "resolving" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arranging

Focuses on the physical act of putting things in order.

organizing

Implies a more structured and systematic approach to arrangement.

classifying

Emphasizes grouping items based on shared characteristics.

categorizing

Similar to classifying, but can also refer to abstract concepts.

grouping

Highlights the act of forming collections of similar items.

separating

Focuses on dividing items into distinct groups.

resolving

Refers to the act of solving a problem or dispute.

untangling

Implies clarifying a complicated or confusing situation.

sifting

Suggests carefully examining items to remove unwanted elements.

streamlining

Emphasizes improving efficiency through better organization.

FAQs

How do you use "sorting" in a sentence?

The word "sorting" can be used as a verb, like in the sentence "I am "sorting the mail"", or as a noun, such as in the sentence "The "sorting process" is crucial for efficiency".

What can I say instead of "sorting out" a problem?

You can use alternatives like "resolving the issue", "addressing the problem", or "solving the problem" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "sorting" and "organizing"?

"Sorting" generally involves arranging items into specific categories, while "organizing" often refers to structuring and arranging items for efficiency or clarity. For instance, "sorting papers" into folders is different from "organizing a filing system".

Is "sorting" the same as "classifying"?

While both involve grouping, "sorting" is a more general term for arranging items, whereas "classifying" specifically implies arranging items into predefined classes or categories. So, you might "sort items by color", but you "classify them by type".