Range vs We've had all sorts of visitors

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Range

Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun

We've had all sorts of visitors

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Range
 RangeWe've had all sorts of visitors
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/reɪndʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/reɪndʒ/"]/🇬🇧 //wiːv hæd ɔːl sɔːts əv ˈvɪzɪtəz//🇺🇸 //wiv hæd ɔl sɔrts əv ˈvɪzɪtɚz//
MeaningThe area between two points or limits.We have had many different kinds of guests.
ExampleThe mountain range was breathtakingly beautiful at sunrise.We've had all sorts of visitors this week, from tourists to local friends.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsbroad, enormous, extensive, have, stock, make, include something, in a/​the range, the bottom of the range, the middle of the range, the top of the range, broad, wide, narrow, cover, encompass, feature, across a/​the range, in a/​the range, outside a/​the range, long, close, point-blank, beyond range, in range, within range, long, close, point-blank, beyond range, in range, within range, archery, bombing, firing, on a/​the range, electric, gas, cooking, on a/​the range, electric, gas, cooking, on a/​the range, archery, bombing, firing, on a/​the rangeall sorts of things, all sorts of people, all sorts of options
Antonymslimit, constraint, restriction-
Common mistakesConfused with 'ranged' as a verb form., Often misused as a synonym for 'arrange'., Wrongly combined with prepositions other than 'of'.Confusing with 'all kinds of' which is more casual., Using 'sorts' with singular nouns, e.g., saying 'all sort of visitors'.
Usage notesUse 'range' when talking about numbers, prices, or types. It's appropriate in both casual and formal settings, but avoid using it in very specific technical contexts unless you're clear about the application.Commonly used in informal conversations to emphasize variety; can be used in both spoken and written contexts.

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Range
We've had all sorts of visitors

Frequently asked questions: Range vs We've had all sorts of visitors

What's the difference between Range and We've had all sorts of visitors?

Range: The area between two points or limits. We've had all sorts of visitors: We have had many different kinds of guests.

Which is more common: Range and We've had all sorts of visitors?

Range is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Range: The mountain range was breathtakingly beautiful at sunrise. We've had all sorts of visitors: We've had all sorts of visitors this week, from tourists to local friends.

Can I use Range and We've had all sorts of visitors interchangeably?

Not always. Range 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.

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