"Such" and "The kind of..."

There are occasions when you may use "such" (in sentences like "We have just such a problem in our own economy"); others where you may write it but not use it casually in conversational English (as in "Tears such as angels weep").

There are others, again, where "such" sounds quite unidiomatic and English prefers a construction like "We have that kind of programme on our own television"; "We have a rather similar saying in Lithuanian"; "You find the same sort of prejudice at home."

Next time you find yourself using "such", ask yourself whether "that kind of..." or "a similar..." might be more appropriate.

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