Cool MateKind of vs Not exactly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Kind of
Top 1,000 (very common)
Not exactly
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Kind of
| Kind of | Not exactly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kaɪnd əv//🇺🇸 //kaɪnd ʌv// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ɪɡˈzæktli//🇺🇸 //nɑt ɪɡˈzæktli// |
| Meaning | a type of something | Not completely true or accurate. |
| Example | I like this kind of music. | The answer was not exactly what I expected. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | kind of like, kind of person, kind of problem | not exactly correct, not exactly clear, not exactly true, not exactly what I mean, not exactly a solution |
| Antonyms | exactly, precisely | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'kind of' with uncountable nouns incorrectly., 'Kind of' is sometimes confused with 'sort of'., Overusing 'kind of' in formal contexts. | Confusing with 'not really', which is more casual., 'Not exactly' is sometimes overused in explanations., Learners may use it in formal contexts where a more definitive phrase is needed. |
| Usage notes | Use in informal situations to indicate a category or type. Avoid in formal writing. | Used to express disagreement or to soften criticism. It is more polite than saying 'wrong'. Avoid in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Kind of vs Not exactly
What's the difference between Kind of and Not exactly?
Kind of: a type of something Not exactly: Not completely true or accurate.
Which is more common: Kind of and Not exactly?
Kind of is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Kind of: I like this kind of music. Not exactly: The answer was not exactly what I expected.
Can I use Kind of and Not exactly interchangeably?
Not always. Kind of and Not exactly 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.