“A Kind Of” vs. “Kind Of”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “a kind of” and “kind of”

  • "A kind of" is more specific and provides a definite categorization while "kind of" is more general and vague.
  • "A kind of" implies a distinct and separate entity while "kind of" can imply a level of ambiguity or approximation.
  • "A kind of" is often used to highlight a unique characteristic or attribute within a category while "kind of" is used to indicate a level of uncertainty or approximation in one's description.
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What is the definition of “a kind of” and “kind of”?

A kind of
  • "A kind of" is used to refer to something as a specific subset or type of a larger category.
  • It is often used to provide more detail or specificity when describing something.
  • It implies that there are other types or variations of the same category.
Kind of
  • "Kind of" is a phrase used to indicate a vague extent or approximation.
  • It is often interchangeable with "sort of" or "somewhat".
  • It can be used to express uncertainty or hesitation in one's description or opinion.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Kind of” is the more popular variant on the web.
A kind of
246,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. That's a kind of dessert I've never tried before.
  2. It feels like a kind of magic how fast time is flying.
  3. She has a kind of confidence that I wish I had.
More popular
Kind of
2,010,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The food was kind of bland, but I ate it anyway.
  2. I'm kind of tired, but I'll push through and finish my work.
  3. It was kind of embarrassing when I realized I was wearing my shirt inside out.
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