Cool MateAs in what sort vs What kind
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
As in what sort
Top 3,000 (common)
What kind
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: What kind
| As in what sort | What kind | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //æz ɪn wɒt sɔːt//🇺🇸 //æz ɪn wɑːt sɔrt// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt kaɪnd//🇺🇸 //wɑt kaɪnd// |
| Meaning | Used to ask about the type or kind of something. | A way to ask about the type or category of something. |
| Example | Can you tell me what sort of music you like? | What kind of music do you like? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | what sort of, what sort, ask what sort | what kind of music, what kind of person, what kind of job |
| Common mistakes | Using in contexts where specificity is needed, e.g., 'What sort of pizza do you want?', Confusing it with 'What type?' when aiming for a more casual tone. | Omitting the word 'kind' in the phrase., Using 'what kind' with uncountable nouns incorrectly., Incorrectly answering with a single item instead of a category. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in informal contexts when seeking clarification about categories or types. May not be used in very formal writing. | "What kind" is used to specify types or categories. It is appropriate in both written and spoken English, but may sound informal in very formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: As in what sort vs What kind
What's the difference between As in what sort and What kind?
As in what sort: Used to ask about the type or kind of something. What kind: A way to ask about the type or category of something.
Which is more common: As in what sort and What kind?
What kind is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
As in what sort: Can you tell me what sort of music you like? What kind: What kind of music do you like?
Can I use As in what sort and What kind interchangeably?
Not always. As in what sort and What kind are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.