to run upon sorts
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In printing, said of work which requires an unusual number of certain letters, etc.; as an index, which requires a disproportionate number of capitals.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to run upon sorts” mean?
In printing, said of work which requires an unusual number of certain letters, etc.; as an index, which requires a disproportionate number of capitals.
Is “to run upon sorts” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.