Difference between Of a sort and Of the sort

of a sort—(also: of a kind)

1. of poor quality; not fully deserving the name:

• There always are, or seem to be, celebrations of a sort on a twenty-firster.

2. of the description mentioned:

• One intriguing use of games is “cognitive experimentation,” of a sort that should appeal to linguists and logicians.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase sort of, a—(also: kind of, a) smth. like; resembling smth.:

• More people were gathered on both sides of the street, forming a sort of amphitheater.

of the sort—(also: of the kind) = of a sort 2:

• These are real people of the sort that inhabit every local pub in the country.