Is this correct?

[poli]

I think you wife is correct. They are interchangable, but I wouldn't generally use "what type of flower is that" either.

But then again...
What type of flower is that? It's the perennial type that blooms year after year.

[laepelba]

So is it better to say "of the same type"?

Does it work with, for instance, with "a type of animal/plant/flower? Or would it be better "a kind of animal/plant/flower?


I'm not sure, to be honest. pjt would use type and I would use kind, but I'm not sure whether there is any meaningful difference. I would say

'What kind of animal is that?' :good:
'What type of animal is that?' :bad:
'What sort of animal is that?' :good:

'What sort of flower is that?' :good:
'What type of flower is that?' :bad:
'What kind of flower is that?' :good:

'What sort of tool would you use for that job?' :good:
'What type of tool would you use for that job?' :good:
'What kind of tool would you use for that job?' :good:

'What sort of person would do that?' :good:
'What kind of person would do that?' :good:
'What type of person would do that?' :bad:

Maybe just habit or dialect. I've never thought about this before. :thinking::thinking::thinking:

P.S. Wife asserts they are all interchangeable. Yet I would never say 'what type of flower'.

I think you wife is correct. They are interchangable, but I wouldn't generally use "what type of flower is that" either.

But then again...
What type of flower is that? It's the perennial type that blooms year after year.

I agree with Perikles' wife - I could say "type" in the two sentences I put in blue above...

[chileno]

I'm not sure, to be honest. pjt would use type and I would use kind, but I'm not sure whether there is any meaningful difference. I would say

'What kind of animal is that?' :good:
'What type of animal is that?' :bad:
'What sort of animal is that?' :good:

'What sort of flower is that?' :good:
'What type of flower is that?' :bad:
'What kind of flower is that?' :good:

'What sort of tool would you use for that job?' :good:
'What type of tool would you use for that job?' :good:
'What kind of tool would you use for that job?' :good:

'What sort of person would do that?' :good:
'What kind of person would do that?' :good:
'What type of person would do that?' :bad:

Maybe just habit or dialect. I've never thought about this before. :thinking::thinking::thinking:

P.S. Wife asserts they are all interchangeable. Yet I would never say 'what type of flower'.

PJT used "type of words" because type is what is used for printing words.

[Perikles]

PJT used "type of words" because type is what is used for printing words.:lol::lol::lol:

[chileno]

:lol::lol::lol:

:):D;)

[irmamar]

So, "kind" works with all the sentences, doesn't it? :)

[Perikles]

So, "kind" works with all the sentences, doesn't it? :)I don't think so, but I'm outnumbered, so yes. :)

[irmamar]

I don't think so, but I'm outnumbered, so yes. :)

¿No lo creo, pero como te superas en número, entonces sí?

I don't understand you even in Spanish :confused:

But thanks, I think kind is good enoug. :)

[Perikles]

¿No lo creo, pero como te superas en número, entonces sí?

I don't understand you even in Spanish :confused:
That's because 'I'm outnumbered' = me superan en número. I meant that everybody else thinks they are the same, so they are more likely to be correct. :)

[hermit]

Seems to me, generally, that the differences between "sort", "type"
and "kind" will be so slight that they are interchangeable.

"Sort" sounds to me more informal; "type", a bit more scientific. I don't
think you can go wrong with "kind".

"That's your sort."
"That's his personality type." (passive, agressive, etc).
"That kind of talk will get you nowhere."

[irmamar]

Thank you everybody. :)

[pjt33]

P.S. Wife asserts they are all interchangeable. Yet I would never say 'what type of flower'.
I think there are subtle differences in the way I use them, but it's probably a question of idiolect. And my favouring of "type" may partly be because I'm a computer scientist.