conflicting characters

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conflicting characters" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe characters in a story, play, or any narrative that have opposing traits, motivations, or beliefs, leading to tension or conflict. Example: "The novel's strength lies in its portrayal of conflicting characters, each representing different ideologies that clash throughout the plot."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The contrast between these two batons precisely reflects the violently conflicting characters of the two composers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's impressive that the JACK musicians, with conflicting characters to portray, remained so tightly together; it's miraculous that they did so while barely signaling to one another with eye contact or gestures.

The New York Times - Arts

It is suggested, however, to select treats that demonstrate a gradual transition in physical properties (i.e., diversity in gummy bears with regards to color, texture, size, etc).. Also, it is probably best if re-designing aspects of this lab to limit your "conflicting" characters to just one in order to ensure maximum likelihood of student understanding.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Values of Bayes factor became remarkably more negative when partitioning with sequence length and genes (2lnBF = 2749.56 and 7412.24, respectively), which again emphasized the importance of partitioning based on biological relevance of sequence structure and function to isolate conflicting characters and improve model fit [44].

Plosone

Conflicting characters also occur, such as a three-carpellate gynoecium in Cucurbitoideae (vs. four-carpellate in Apodanthaceae) and a valvate perianth (vs. imbricate).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Because C. vulgaris bud bloomers phenotype shows conflicting characters compared to a classical B gene mutant - on the one hand petaliod sepals, on the other hand loss of stamens and petals - a broad RNA sequencing approach was chosen to find genes differentially expressed in wt and the diplocalyx bud flowering phenotypes of C. vulgaris.

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The complexity that has to be carefully treated in the design process is largely due to the multi-criteria and conflicting character of the functional and performance requirements.

Mechatronics

The universal peace model, used to justify the use of force, does not represent the conflicting character of society.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

The variance makes sense, as the very nature of these metrics changes as a function of the addition of new data partitions with varying degrees of supporting and conflicting character information.

Plosone

From his first novel, "Elsewhere, Perhaps" (published in 1966), to his most recent, "Judas" (2014), Mr. Oz depicted the emergence of Israel as a vibrant, if imperfect, society reflected through the lens of flawed, often conflicted characters.

The Washington Post

Enough with those finely wrought stories in which conflicted characters come to slow realizations about their fates; there's clearly more money to be made in the advice business.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conflicting characters" to highlight underlying philosophical, moral, or practical disagreements, rather than superficial personality clashes.

Common error

Avoid using "conflicting characters" merely to describe diverse personalities without a clear, demonstrable source of conflict. Ensure their opposing traits actively contribute to the narrative's tension or thematic development.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conflicting characters" functions as a noun phrase, where 'conflicting' acts as an adjective modifying 'characters.' As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and used to describe individuals with opposing traits, motivations, or beliefs. The examples show its use in various analytical and descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "conflicting characters" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote individuals or entities in opposition, as validated by Ludwig AI. It functions as a noun phrase, with 'conflicting' acting as an adjective modifying 'characters'. Common in Science and News & Media, the phrase is used to describe characters that have opposing traits, motivations, or beliefs, leading to tension or conflict. The most authoritative sources using this expression include The New York Times and The Guardian. Writers should use the phrase to concisely and efficiently convey the presence of inherent opposition within a narrative, remembering to specify the underlying source of disagreement. Alternatives include "opposing personalities" and "antagonistic figures".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposing personalities

Focuses on the inherent differences in personality that lead to conflict.

antagonistic figures

Highlights the adversarial relationship between the characters.

characters in conflict

General term indicating characters are experiencing conflict, broader than inherent traits.

rival characters

Emphasizes competition and rivalry between the characters.

contrasting characters

Similar to "conflicting characters" but focuses on the differences rather than the conflict itself.

discordant individuals

Highlights the lack of harmony and agreement between individuals.

characters with clashing ideals

Specifies the source of the conflict as differing ideals.

warring factions

Focuses on group conflict, potentially involving characters from opposing groups.

characters at odds

Indicates disagreement and opposition between characters.

characters in opposition

Highlights that the characters stand against each other.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "conflicting characters" in a story?

To use "conflicting characters" effectively, establish clear motivations and goals for each character that directly oppose one another, creating natural tension and driving the narrative forward. Ensure the "conflict between characters" arises organically from their personalities and circumstances.

What are some synonyms for "conflicting characters" that I can use to add variety to my writing?

Consider using synonyms such as "opposing personalities", "antagonistic figures", or "rival characters" to add variety to your writing while maintaining clarity. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "conflicted characters" instead of "conflicting characters"?

While "conflicted characters" is also grammatically correct, it emphasizes internal struggle within the characters themselves, rather than external opposition between them. "Conflicting characters" highlights the "conflict between characters", while "conflicted characters" emphasizes their internal turmoil.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use the term "conflicting characters"?

The term "conflicting characters" is appropriate in literary analysis, film reviews, and discussions of interpersonal dynamics where the opposition between characters is a central theme. It is suitable for formal and informal contexts when discussing "narrative conflict".