Here are some ways "sort of" is used:
* To express a partial agreement or similarity:
* "I sort of like that song." (You like it, but maybe not completely or enthusiastically.)
* "The restaurant is sort of fancy." (It has some fancy elements, but not fully.)
* To indicate an approximation:
* "It's sort of like a square." (It's not perfectly square, but has similar characteristics.)
* "I'll be there in sort of an hour." (It might be a bit more or less than an hour.)
* To show hesitation or uncertainty:
* "I sort of want to go, but..." (You're not completely sure about going.)
* "That's sort of what happened." (You're not entirely certain about the details.)
Examples:
* "The party was sort of fun." (It wasn't completely fun, but had some enjoyable elements.)
* "The painting is sort of abstract." (It has some abstract elements, but not entirely.)
* "I sort of understand what you mean." (You understand a little bit, but not completely.)
Note: "Sort of" can sometimes be perceived as vague or lacking conviction. In formal writing, it's often best to use more specific language.