Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

characterisation

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "characterisation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the portrayal or description of a character in literature, film, or other forms of storytelling. Example: "The characterisation of the protagonist in the novel is complex and multifaceted, revealing their inner struggles and motivations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Church (1940) repeated this characterisation.

Science

SEP

Philosophical commentators offer a more distinctive characterisation.

Science

SEP

It is taken for granted that a probability distribution over at least some region of state space is a meaningful characterisation of the state of a system, and further constraints are usually assumed about what kind of probability distribution this could be.

Science

SEP

The more specific an analogy, the stronger; the more abstract the characterisation, the weaker the argument as an analogy.

Science

SEP

What is the key characterisation of the vehicle of harm on these facts?

Science

SEP

In other cases the category may be incompletely characterised: there will be examples of items falling within the category but no general characterisation of it (see Levenbook 2000, 201 11).

Science

SEP

Werndl (2009: §5) endorses a similar characterisation when she proposes that approximate probabilistic irrelevance is the hallmark of unpredictability, and proves that mixing systems exhibit such unpredictability.

Science

SEP

The traditional characterisation involves the use of problematic notions analyticity, necessity, and a priority and also fails to apply to many arguments to which defenders have affixed the label "ontological".

Science

SEP

A further characterisation of the kind of coherence which is to be sought in legal reasoning may be found in Ronald Dworkin's work.

Science

SEP

We should emphasise, however, that this is true only for events in the Bernoulli partition; the characterisation of a Bernoulli system is silent about what random properties partitions other than the Bernoulli partition have.

Science

SEP

For Boyd and Richerson it denotes any effort to abstract from a characterisation of individual psychological profiles, in a way that allows an exploration of the consequences of these individual-level dispositions for population-level properties.

Science

SEP
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about fictional characters, use "characterisation" to discuss the process of creating and developing their personalities.

Common error

While "characterisation" is the preferred spelling in British English, be mindful of your audience. If writing for an American audience, use the spelling "characterization" to avoid confusion.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The term "characterisation" functions primarily as a noun, referring to the act of describing or portraying the qualities of someone or something, often in a narrative or analytical context. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase "characterisation" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "characterisation" is a noun that refers to the description or portrayal of qualities, particularly in narrative or analytical contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in science. While the term is common, remember that "characterization" is the American English spelling, be mindful of your target audience, and also there are alternatives such as "portrayal" or "description" that you can consider for an even wider range of potential matches.

FAQs

How to use "characterisation" in a sentence?

"Characterisation" is used to describe the act of creating and developing a character in a story or the description of a thing. For example, "The "characterisation" of the protagonist was complex and nuanced."

What can I say instead of "characterisation"?

You can use alternatives like "portrayal", "description", or "representation", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "characterisation" or "characterization"?

"Characterisation" is the British English spelling, while "characterization" is the American English spelling. Both are correct, but choose the spelling that is appropriate for your audience.

What's the difference between "characterisation" and "description"?

"Characterisation" typically refers to the development of a character's traits and personality, especially in fiction. "Description" is a broader term that can refer to any detailed account of something, not just characters.

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: