a basic characteristic of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a basic characteristic of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an essential quality or feature that defines something. Example: "A basic characteristic of effective communication is clarity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

And his playmaking is a basic characteristic of his style.

The New Yorker

The tension between different representations of reality amid omnipresent music is a basic characteristic of opera.

The Guardian - Arts

A basic characteristic of 20th-century counterpointis the separation of the voice parts into isolated entities of sound that are of themselves rather static.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A basic characteristic of interlocking is the absence of a common guide pulse to be taken as a reference point by all players.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A basic characteristic of gradient elasticity type equations is the appearance of boundary layers in the higher-order derivatives of the displacements (e.g., in the stress fields).

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation shows that the cuticle of Tumblebug (an insect) has a basic characteristic of laminated structure consisting of highly oriented chitin fibers and sclerotized protein matrixes.

Materials Science and Engineering: B

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

You can also choose a more anonymous notice that just gives a basic characteristic like your place of employment.

The New York Times

Degree (k), the most basic characteristic of a node in a network is defined as the number of adjacent links, i.e. the number of interactions that connect one protein to its neighbors.

BMC Systems Biology

Gone with the Wind and Strange Fruit or Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? offer us intuitively accessible instances of a much broader and more basic characteristic of human understanding and social relations.

Harvard University

The basic characteristic of a PoW system is that creating the proof must entail a predictable amount of work, while verifying the proof must be straightforward.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Zhang (2012, p. 272) claims that "'[c]oherence is the essential condition to distinguish text from non-text", so being coherent is the basic characteristic of a source text which can be understood and translated into another language.

Functional Linguistics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a basic characteristic of", ensure that the characteristic you are describing is indeed fundamental and not merely a superficial attribute.

Common error

Avoid using "a basic characteristic of" to describe features that are already widely understood or self-evident within the context. Instead, focus on less obvious but essential qualities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a basic characteristic of" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or appositive. It serves to identify or describe a fundamental attribute or feature associated with a particular subject. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

29%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a basic characteristic of" is a versatile expression used to highlight fundamental attributes across diverse domains. As validated by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for formal and neutral registers. Analysis of Ludwig examples reveals that this phrase frequently appears in science, news media, and academic contexts, emphasizing its role in defining and explaining essential qualities. When employing this phrase, ensure that the characteristic truly represents a core aspect and avoid stating the obvious. Alternatives include "a fundamental attribute of" and "a key feature of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fundamental attribute of

Replaces 'basic characteristic' with 'fundamental attribute', emphasizing the inherent quality.

a key feature of

Substitutes 'basic characteristic' with 'key feature', highlighting importance.

an essential element of

Changes 'basic characteristic' to 'essential element', focusing on necessity.

a defining trait of

Replaces 'basic characteristic' with 'defining trait', emphasizing identification.

a core property of

Substitutes 'basic characteristic' with 'core property', highlighting an inherent attribute.

a primary aspect of

Changes 'basic characteristic' to 'primary aspect', highlighting importance.

a typical quality of

Replaces 'basic characteristic' with 'typical quality', focusing on usual attributes.

an inherent feature of

Substitutes 'basic characteristic' with 'inherent feature', emphasizing natural presence.

a common attribute of

Changes 'basic characteristic' to 'common attribute', highlighting shared characteristics.

a standard element of

Replaces 'basic characteristic' with 'standard element', focusing on the conventional.

FAQs

How can I use "a basic characteristic of" in a sentence?

Use "a basic characteristic of" to introduce a fundamental quality or attribute that defines a subject. For example, "A basic characteristic of democracy is the right to vote."

What are some alternatives to "a basic characteristic of"?

You can use alternatives like "a fundamental attribute of", "a key feature of", or "an essential element of" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "a basic characteristic of" when the characteristic is already implied?

Yes, avoid using "a basic characteristic of" when the characteristic is self-evident. Choose a more concise phrasing to prevent redundancy.

What's the difference between "a basic characteristic of" and "a defining trait of"?

"A basic characteristic of" refers to a fundamental attribute, while "a defining trait of" emphasizes a quality that specifically distinguishes the subject from others.