Cool MateCollection vs We've had all sorts of visitors
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Collection
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
We've had all sorts of visitors
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Collection
| Collection | We've had all sorts of visitors | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəˈlekʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəˈlekʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wiːv hæd ɔːl sɔːts əv ˈvɪzɪtəz//🇺🇸 //wiv hæd ɔl sɔrts əv ˈvɪzɪtɚz// |
| Meaning | A group of things that are gathered together. | We have had many different kinds of guests. |
| Example | My grandmother has an impressive collection of vintage stamps. | We've had all sorts of visitors this week, from tourists to local friends. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | big, extensive, huge, boast, have, own, consist of something, contain something, include something, collection of, big, extensive, huge, boast, have, own, consist of something, contain something, include something, collection of, routine, systematic, efficient, await, be ready for, arrange, point, site, service, collection of, a method of collection, compile, edit, produce, collection of, house-to-house, street, charity, have, make, organize, box, plate, collection for, new, autumn, fall, create, launch, show | all sorts of things, all sorts of people, all sorts of options |
| Antonyms | dispersal, scattering | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'selection' which means a choice among items., Using 'collection' as a verb instead of its noun form., Saying 'collect' when they mean 'collection,' missing the noun form. | Confusing with 'all kinds of' which is more casual., Using 'sorts' with singular nouns, e.g., saying 'all sort of visitors'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'collection' when referring to a set of items, like stamps or books. It's appropriate for both formal and casual contexts, but avoid using it in very specific legal or tax terminology. | Commonly used in informal conversations to emphasize variety; can be used in both spoken and written contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Collection vs We've had all sorts of visitors
What's the difference between Collection and We've had all sorts of visitors?
Collection: A group of things that are gathered together. We've had all sorts of visitors: We have had many different kinds of guests.
Which is more common: Collection and We've had all sorts of visitors?
Collection is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Collection: My grandmother has an impressive collection of vintage stamps. We've had all sorts of visitors: We've had all sorts of visitors this week, from tourists to local friends.
Can I use Collection and We've had all sorts of visitors interchangeably?
Not always. Collection and We've had all sorts of visitors 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.