type site
A1Neutral to formal; extremely common in all registers.
Definition
Meaning
A category of people or things having common characteristics; a kind, sort, or class.
To write using a keyboard or typewriter; a small block with a raised letter used in printing; the general form or character of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, refers to a group with shared traits. As a verb, specifically means to produce text via a keyboard. Can imply a stereotypical example (e.g., 'the classic type').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Typecast' (verb) is common in both for assigning stereotypical roles. 'Blood type' is standard; 'blood group' is somewhat more common in UK medical contexts.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] to type a letter[N] a type of [N] (a type of bird)[V N] to type something[V that] (rare)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “be not your type”
- “true to type”
- “typecast someone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for categorizing products, clients, or market segments (e.g., 'customer type').
Academic
Used in taxonomy, classification, and theoretical models (e.g., 'personality type').
Everyday
Very common for describing preferences, objects, or people (e.g., 'my type of music').
Technical
Specific meaning in computing (data type), biology (genotype), and printing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- He's not really my type, to be honest.
- This is an unusual type of fungus found in local woods.
- The architect favoured a classical type of column.
American English
- She's the adventurous type, always travelling.
- What blood type are you?
- We need a different type of approach to solve this.
verb
British English
- Could you type up the minutes from the meeting?
- He types with impressive speed using only two fingers.
- Please type your full name in the box provided.
American English
- I'll type the report and email it to you by 5 PM.
- She was typing furiously to meet the deadline.
- Type 'agree' in the chat if you understand.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like this type of cake.
- Can you type your name here?
- She is a friendly type of person.
- This software supports various file types.
- He was asked to type a formal letter of complaint.
- What type of career are you interested in?
- The study identified three distinct personality types.
- The document must be typed in 12-point font and double-spaced.
- This is typical of a certain type of political rhetoric.
- The building is a prime example of the Brutalist type of architecture.
- The actor feared being typecast as a villain.
- The argument is a type of logical fallacy known as a false dichotomy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TYPEwriter: it creates letters of a certain TYPE on paper.
Conceptual Metaphor
CATEGORIES ARE CONTAINERS (He fits the type; She's outside my usual type).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'tap' (кран). The Russian 'тип' is a direct cognate but can sound more formal/scientific. The verb 'to type' is 'печатать (на машинке/клавиатуре)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'type' without 'of' (Incorrect: 'What type person is he?' Correct: 'What type of person is he?'). Confusing 'type' (category) with 'tap' (faucet) in pronunciation.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'type' correctly as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It should be 'this type of thing' (singular) or 'these types of things' (plural). 'These type' is a common grammatical error.
They are largely synonymous. 'Type' often suggests a more distinct, definable category based on objective characteristics. 'Kind' and 'sort' are more general and interchangeable, with 'sort' being slightly more informal.
No. 'To type' specifically refers to using a typewriter or keyboard. For handwriting, use 'write' or 'write out'.
It means to consistently assign an actor or person the same type of role or category based on their previous work or appearance, often limiting their opportunities.