external characters

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "external characters" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing features or traits that are observable from outside a system, character, or entity. Example: "In the story, the external characters play a crucial role in shaping the protagonist's journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

According to "On the External Characters of Minerals," a seminal taxonomy of color produced in 1774 by the German geologist A. G.

The New Yorker

Writing, he argued, would "produce forgetfulness in the minds of those who learn to use it, because they will not practice their memory … Their trust in writing, produced by external characters which are no part of themselves, will discourage the use of their own memory within them.

The Guardian - Opinion

In contemporary mineralogy disputes, Berzelius frequently sided with René-Just Haüy, who based his crystallography on the existence of distinct compounds as interpreted through Lavoisier's chemistry, and against the school of Abraham Gottlob Werner, who relied on external characters such as colour, texture, and hardness to discriminate between species of minerals.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, the discrimination among most of the Mastomys species is often difficult, if not impossible, on the basis of external characters.

Biochemical Systematics and Ecology

For example, cantalupensis, reticulatus, and makuwa are consumed as a dessert fruit because of its high sugar content and excellent external characters in Taiwan.

Botanical Studies

Nine external characters of the flight apparatus were measured to the nearest 0.1 mm [11] (Table 6).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It turns a self-lacerating inner monologue into a specific, external character, and you perversely wonder less about Joe than about this woman who keeps ranting in a spotlight stage left.

The New York Times

Producer Shaun Himmerick said that the internal and external character design required "two months or ten weeks".

Wikipedia

Storage of the sample derivative hierarchy data in the CDM is configured to include the information about and, optionally, a stable link to external character datasets, or the stored character datasets themselves.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

In this way, beside external morphological characters also internal morphological, genetic, physiological and molecular characters can be included easily.

Plosone

"They will trust to the external written characters and not remember of themselves".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing species identification in scientific writing, clarify whether you are relying solely on "external characters" or incorporating other data like genetic analysis for a more robust assessment.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "external characters" for definitive classification, especially in fields like biology and mineralogy. These characteristics can be misleading due to environmental factors or convergent evolution. Supplement your analysis with internal, genetic, or chemical markers for a more accurate assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "external characters" functions as a noun phrase, where 'external' modifies 'characters'. As noted by Ludwig, it's correctly and frequently used to describe observable features or traits.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "external characters" is a common and grammatically correct term, predominantly used within scientific and academic contexts. Ludwig AI highlights its use in describing observable traits crucial for identification and classification. While "external characters" provides a foundation for analysis, relying solely on them can be limiting; therefore, integrating other data like genetic or chemical markers is often recommended. Alternative phrases include "observable traits" and "superficial features", each offering slightly different nuances. The usage of this phrase varies from formal scientific publications to news reports, reflecting its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outward characteristics

Emphasizes the characteristics that are presented or visible externally.

exterior features

Highlights aspects of the outer surface or part.

observable traits

Focuses on the visibility and measurability of the characteristics.

outer attributes

Stresses that the attributes exist on the exterior of something or someone.

phenotypic traits

A more technical term referring to observable characteristics resulting from the interaction of genotype and environment.

visible attributes

Highlights the attributes that can be seen.

superficial features

Highlights the outer, surface-level aspects.

morphological traits

Refers specifically to the form and structure of an organism.

surface characteristics

Similar to superficial features, but can also include physical texture.

physical appearance

Focuses on the overall visual aspect.

FAQs

How are "external characters" used in species identification?

"External characters" are observable traits like color, size, and shape, which can help distinguish species. However, relying solely on these can be problematic; genetic or internal characteristics often provide more definitive identification.

What are some examples of "external characters"?

Examples of "external characters" include features like the color of a mineral, the texture of a leaf, or the markings on an animal's fur.

What are the limitations of using "external characters" for classification?

Using only "external characters" can be limiting because these traits can be influenced by environmental factors or represent convergent evolution. Genetic analysis or internal anatomical features often provide more accurate classifications.

When should I use other methods in addition to "external characters"?

When classifying organisms or objects, use other methods like genetic analysis or internal anatomical features alongside "external characters", particularly when dealing with closely related species or when environmental factors may influence external appearance.