a distinct characteristic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a distinct characteristic" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are describing something that has a clear, easily recognizable quality that sets it apart from other similar things. Example sentence: The bright pink petals of the flower were a distinct characteristic that made it stand out from other varieties.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

The Jones spread contains eight small mini-vineyards, each contributing a distinct characteristic to the Moraga blend.

The New Yorker

Indeed, the presence of such "nonliterary" genres is a distinct characteristic of the phenomenon of adab.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Unlike the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa resort, where glimpses of haute couture can turn up somewhat expectantly in the evening hours, the disinclination to put on airs is a distinct characteristic of the Island Explorer.

The Guardian - Travel

He soon realised it only worked against viruses that shared a distinct characteristic, a greasy outer membrane or lipid envelope.

BBC

Fine cracks, caused by restrained shrinkage during drying, are a distinct characteristic of all Roman cement stuccoes.

Cement and Concrete Research

Each of these operational modes has a distinct characteristic than can be applicable for a specific system.

Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

The reason for that is each of them has a distinct characteristics that certain Minecraft players might have," said Hill.

The Guardian - Tech

He noticed that when he crossed a pea plant with a particular distinct characteristic – such as a long stem – with another pea plant with the opposite characteristic – a short stem – the result wasn't something in between, but plants that were all tall.

The Guardian

grubii strains (serotypes D and A, respectively) have distinct characteristics in terms of intracellular signaling and cellular physiology [24] [26].

Plosone

In this section, we present a GAMPSON which initially gathers distinct characteristic features of an actor such as personally identifiable information, professional information, social status, activity, and history (shown in Fig. 1).

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

It's a white middle class, a black middle class and a lower class that's mostly African-American, and they have a very distinct characteristics," McClellan said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a distinct characteristic", ensure that the characteristic you are describing is genuinely unique and easily identifiable, avoiding subjective or vague descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "a distinct characteristic" when describing a feature that is common or only slightly different from others. This weakens the impact of the phrase and may mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a distinct characteristic" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It identifies and emphasizes a particular attribute that differentiates something from others. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a distinct characteristic" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI. It serves to highlight a specific attribute that sets something apart from others. While it appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, its usage extends to other areas as well. When employing this phrase, ensure that the characteristic is genuinely unique and avoid overstating its distinctiveness. Alternatives such as "a unique attribute" or "a distinguishing feature" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a defining characteristic

Replaces 'distinct' with 'defining' to stress the importance of the characteristic in identifying something.

a hallmark trait

Substitutes 'characteristic' with 'trait' and 'distinct' with 'hallmark', emphasizing its role as a signature or identifier.

a distinguishing feature

Replaces 'characteristic' with 'feature' and 'distinct' with 'distinguishing', focusing on what sets something apart.

a specific trait

Replaces 'characteristic' with 'trait' and 'distinct' with 'specific', emphasizing particularity.

a unique attribute

Changes 'characteristic' to 'attribute' and 'distinct' to 'unique', emphasizing individuality.

a particular attribute

Uses 'attribute' for 'characteristic' and 'particular' for 'distinct' focusing on specific qualities.

a notable quality

Substitutes 'characteristic' with 'quality' and 'distinct' with 'notable', highlighting importance.

a key feature

Changes 'characteristic' to 'feature' and 'distinct' to 'key', emphasizing importance and recognizability.

a unique property

Substitutes 'characteristic' with 'property' and 'distinct' with 'unique', highlighting individuality.

an individual attribute

Replaces 'distinct' with 'individual' emphasizing the unique nature of the attribute.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a distinct characteristic" in a sentence?

Use "a distinct characteristic" to highlight a particular feature that clearly differentiates something from others. For example, "The vibrant color is "a distinct characteristic" of this species."

What are some alternative phrases to "a distinct characteristic"?

You can use alternatives like "a unique attribute", "a distinguishing feature", or "a notable quality" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "very distinct characteristic"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "very distinct characteristic" can be seen as slightly redundant since 'distinct' already implies a clear differentiation. Consider using just ""a distinct characteristic"" or a stronger synonym for 'distinct' if emphasis is needed.

How does "a distinct characteristic" differ from "a typical characteristic"?

"A distinct characteristic" refers to a feature that sets something apart, while "a typical characteristic" refers to a common or representative feature. The former emphasizes uniqueness, whereas the latter indicates commonality.