Selection vs We've had all sorts of visitors

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

Selection

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun

We've had all sorts of visitors

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Selection
 SelectionWe've had all sorts of visitors
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/sɪˈlekʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/sɪˈlekʃn/"]/🇬🇧 //wiːv hæd ɔːl sɔːts əv ˈvɪzɪtəz//🇺🇸 //wiv hæd ɔl sɔrts əv ˈvɪzɪtɚz//
MeaningChoosing something from a group.We have had many different kinds of guests.
ExampleThe selection of participants for the study was conducted fairly.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 levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationscareful, random, initial, make, base on, win, criteria, policy, procedure, selection as, selection for, varied, wide, random, contain, include, play, selection from, selection of, broad, comprehensive, extensive, offer, find, feature, selection ofall sorts of things, all sorts of people, all sorts of options
Antonymsrejection, dismissal, exclusion-
Common mistakesConfused with 'selection' vs 'collection', Using 'selecting' as a noun instead of 'selection', Mixing up 'selection' with 'election'Confusing with 'all kinds of' which is more casual., Using 'sorts' with singular nouns, e.g., saying 'all sort of visitors'.
Usage notesUsed in both formal and informal contexts. More common in academic writing or discussions about choices. Avoid in casual conversation unless clearly discussing options.Commonly used in informal conversations to emphasize variety; can be used in both spoken and written contexts.

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We've had all sorts of visitors

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

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

Selection: Choosing something from a group. We've had all sorts of visitors: We have had many different kinds of guests.

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

Selection is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Selection: The selection of participants for the study was conducted fairly. We've had all sorts of visitors: We've had all sorts of visitors this week, from tourists to local friends.

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

Not always. Selection 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.