a distinct letter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a distinct letter" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a letter that is clearly defined or different from others in a specific context, such as in writing or typography. Example: "In the word 'apple', the letter 'a' is a distinct letter that stands out at the beginning."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This is admittedly a lesser concern, but ligatures can sometimes assist in assigning a provenance to a given work, and novice readers should become familiar with them to avoid mistaking a pair of letters for a distinct letter form.

Yale University

The substance codes are the same as the molecule code, but a distinct letter is added for each distinct salt.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In addition to this, he used two distinct letter forms for, using the old yogh for [d͡ʒ] and [j], and the new for (Jack, George, in Matthew and Harrison 2004, pp. 936 37).

Wikipedia

Here, using an example in which the mean number of steps to a local optimum equals (A−1)/A, where A is the number of distinct "letters" in the "alphabet" from which sequences are constructed, it is shown that as originally stated, the conjecture does not hold.

Journal of Theoretical Biology

The values represent means ± S.D.. Distinct letters on the bars indicate significant difference at each treatment time (n = 3, Tukey's multiple range test: p < 0.05).

Nature

Distinct letters above the bars indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

Rice

Distinct letters in the same row indicate statistically significant differences (p < 0.05).

Applied Adhesion Science

For each state, consider the ratio of the total number of letters divided by the number of distinct letters.

Johns Hopkins University

On the other hand, if the items in question are taken as word-tokens, then presumably they are made up of distinct letter-tokens, so again there is no violation of (29), hence no reason to reject (P.5) on these grounds.

SEP

The segmental elements are those that follow each other in sequences, which are usually represented by distinct letters in alphabetic scripts, such as the Roman script.

Wikipedia

The early scripts have distinct letters for velar plosives and uvular plosives, but as these are in complementary distribution according to vowel harmony class, only two back plosive phonemes, */k/, */kʰ/ (~ *[k], *[qʰ]) are to be reconstructed.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In statistical analysis or coding contexts, employ "a distinct letter" to differentiate variables or categories clearly.

Common error

Avoid using "a distinct letter" when a simpler term like "a different letter" or "a specific letter" would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or technical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a distinct letter" functions as a noun phrase, where 'distinct' is an adjective modifying 'letter'. Ludwig provides examples showing its use to describe a unique letter form or a letter that stands out in a given context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a distinct letter" is grammatically correct and serves to highlight the unique or easily distinguishable nature of a letter. As shown in the examples provided by Ludwig, it appears in various contexts, including academic, scientific, and general writing. While relatively rare in overall usage, it is most frequently found in scientific and news-related sources. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. When employing this phrase, it's important to consider whether a simpler alternative, such as "a different letter", might be more appropriate to avoid unnecessary formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a separate letter

Highlights the separation or individuality of the letter.

a different letter

Indicates a contrast from another letter being discussed.

an individual letter

Highlights the individuality of the letter.

a unique character

Focuses on the uniqueness of the character rather than its distinctness as a letter.

a clearly defined letter

Stresses the clarity and definition of the letter's form.

a particular letter

Emphasizes the specific nature of the letter in question.

a recognizable letter

Focuses on the letter's ability to be easily recognized.

a specific character

Focuses on specifying the character rather than its general distinctness.

a marked letter

Suggests the letter is somehow highlighted or noticeable.

a notable letter

Emphasizes the letter's importance or significance.

FAQs

What does "a distinct letter" mean?

The phrase "a distinct letter" refers to a letter that is clearly different or distinguishable from others. It emphasizes the unique characteristics or form of a particular letter.

How can I use "a distinct letter" in a sentence?

You can use "a distinct letter" to describe a letter with a unique shape or sound. For example: "The font uses "a distinct letter" for the capital 'A' to make it stand out."

What are some alternatives to "a distinct letter"?

Some alternatives to "a distinct letter" include "a unique character", "a separate letter", or "a particular letter", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a distinct letter"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to use the phrase "a distinct letter". It follows standard English grammar rules and is commonly used to describe letters that are easily differentiated from others.