what kind of vs which kind of

Both 'what kind of' and 'which kind of' are correct and commonly used in English. They are interchangeable in many contexts, but 'what kind of' is more general and can be used when the options are not limited, while 'which kind of' implies a selection from a specific set of options.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 1062 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"what kind of"

This phrase is used to inquire about the type or category of something when the options are not limited. It is a general question about the nature or characteristics of a particular thing.

Examples:

What kind of music do you like?
What kind of food is served at the restaurant?
What kind of books do you enjoy reading?
What kind of car does he drive?
What kind of person is she?

Alternatives:

What type of
What sort of
What category of
What style of
What genre of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"which kind of"

This phrase is used to inquire about the specific type or category of something when the options are limited or when a selection is expected. It implies a choice among a set of options.

Examples:

Which kind of ice cream do you want?
Which kind of laptop should I buy?
Which kind of movie do you prefer?
Which kind of shoes should I wear?
Which kind of phone do you have?

Show examples from the web [+]

Jul 17, 2008 ... You can say "Which kind of ice cream would you like?" or "What kind of ice cream ..." No real difference. But a classic song is titled "What Kind of ...
Dec 6, 2012 ... (assumes two or more different types of birds); Which kind of bird is facing extinction? (assumes the three birds in the question, not the entire ...
Which Kind of Collaboration Is Right for You? Gary P. Pisano · Roberto Verganti. From the December 2008 Issue. SUMMARY FULL TEXT; SAVE; SHARE
Jun 11, 2015 ... ... twitter handle @inoffensive and whether you're looking at this on your laptop or your phone, you're sure to spot which kind of person you are.

Alternatives:

Which type of
Which sort of
Which category of
Which style of
Which genre of

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what kind of vs which kind of

"what kind of"

"which kind of"

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