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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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characterise

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"characterise" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It typically means to describe a person or thing in terms of their distinctive qualities. For example: "The vibrant colours characterise the painting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I wouldn't characterise all those people [ABC interviewers] as leftist – that's far too strong a term," he continued.

News & Media

The Guardian

"Nearly all of those references are used to call our client's success into question or to characterise her personally as difficult.

Some academics, however, are worried by student unions' determination to rule on what students should and shouldn't see or discuss – and by what they characterise as universities' failure to challenge it.

News & Media

The Guardian

"I would not characterise it as such," Woods said.

News & Media

The Guardian

Almost every track kisses off someone or other; if it plays it safe in places, such as lead single Mr Know It All, then the cynical snarl of Let Me Down and the cast-iron pop choruses of What Doesn't Kill You and Einstein are full of the bravado and force that characterise Clarkson's best work.

The statement on Rahman's website continued by claiming that it was wrong for the judgment to characterise The Tower Hamlets First party, which was led by Rahman, as a "one-man band".

News & Media

The Guardian

After the Bellfield case Samuels was described as "boastful" (for allowing his chamber's website to characterise him as sought-after and highly effective), as earning "hundreds of thousands of pounds" acting for "heinous criminals", and as a resident of a "large, five-bedroom, £1.4m detached house in Prestwich".

News & Media

The Guardian

So how many dramatic cul-de-sacs and interlocked mysteries that increasingly characterise exciting and innovative new shows can the viewer cope with before they became an exercise in frustration?

Our work examines a considerably larger collection – 800 books – over multiple genres, providing insights into lexical, syntactic, and discourse patterns that characterise the writing styles commonly shared among the successful literature".

Related: 'These women are not statistics' – deaths in Australia in 2015 "The truth is that domestic and family violence is caused by unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women, it's about the rigid gender roles and stereotypes that characterise our society, and the culture and the attitudes that support violence against women".

News & Media

The Guardian

Mawrey predicted that Rahman would characterise his judgment as "yet another example of the racism and Islamophobia that have hounded him throughout his political life".

News & Media

The Guardian
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "characterise", ensure you clearly identify the specific traits or qualities you are attributing to the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "characterise" in vague contexts where the defining traits are not clearly established or supported by evidence. Instead, provide specific examples or details to justify your characterization.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

91%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "characterise" is that of a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being described or identified by its distinct qualities. Ludwig AI's analysis supports this, showcasing numerous examples where "characterise" acts upon a noun or pronoun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "characterise" is a versatile transitive verb used to define or describe the key attributes of a subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically sound and frequently used across various contexts, especially in news and media. While alternatives like "describe" or "define" exist, "characterise" specifically emphasizes identifying and highlighting distinctive qualities. Remembering to specify these qualities and avoid vagueness ensures effective communication. With its widespread application and clear function, "characterise" remains a valuable tool for precise and descriptive writing.

FAQs

How to use "characterise" in a sentence?

You can use "characterise" to describe the distinctive qualities of something, as in "The artist's bold brushstrokes "characterise" his paintings".

What can I say instead of "characterise"?

You can use alternatives like "describe", "define", or "portray" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "characterise" or "characterize"?

"Characterise" is the British English spelling, while "characterize" is the American English spelling. Both are correct, but choose the spelling that aligns with your audience.

What's the difference between "characterise" and "identify"?

"Characterise" involves describing the qualities of something, while "identify" focuses on recognizing or establishing what something is. They are related but have different nuances.

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Source & Trust

91%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: