kind/sort of or a kind/sort of

0Hi,02br
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00I have difficulty using the content of subject phrases when they seem to mean basically the same thing in sentences. I think 'sort/kind of' is used to ameliorate the effect or make the subject matter trifle, as if it is not so much important; whereas, 'a kind of' is used when making distinctions, in this case being one kind of the noun.02br
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00But sometimes, its not so clear because I feel both can work to produce similar effect, especially when the phrases are used before a noun.02br
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00sort/kind of a done deal02br
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00a sort/a kind of done deal 02br
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00The above examples might not be a good one to go by but those are what I can come up with.0-