external sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "external sentence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing linguistics, philosophy, or communication, where you refer to a sentence that exists outside of a particular context or framework. Example: "In analyzing the text, we must consider the external sentence that influences the reader's interpretation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Examples of external sentence tokens were given in the last paragraph — piles of ink, sound waves, and so on.

SEP

Now, one might hold a physicalistic view here according to which linguistics is about actual (external) sentence tokens, e.g., piles of ink and verbal sound waves.

SEP

And, second, there is the physicalistic view that belief reports involve references to external sentence tokens, i.e., to piles of ink, and so on (versions of this view have been endorsed by Carnap (1947), Davidson (1967), and Leeds (1979)).

SEP

(Findlay 1963, 49) It is worth noticing that there are two interpretations of negation (narrower, internal, predicate, or ontological negation versus wider, external, sentence, logical negation), and accordingly there are two versions of the law of excluded middle.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

One may call sentences like "Pegasus is a flying horse" or "Hamlet hates his stepfather" "internal sentences of fictional discourse", in distinction from external sentences of fictional discourse, like "Pegasus is a character from Greek mythology" or "Hamlet has fascinated many psychoanalysts".

SEP

The story operator strategy can be applied to internal sentences only and thus fails as a general solution to the problem of fictional discourse.[8] The claim that there are nonexistent objects provides a solution that can be applied uniformly both to internal and external sentences of fictional discourse.

SEP

(For this formulation, see Crimmins (1998 2 8).) One advantage of such an antirealist move is that it can be used for both fictional sentences and external metafictional sentences.

SEP

They argue that even though fictional sentences on their non-conniving use can be paraphrased as internal metafictional sentences on their de dicto reading and thus do not commit us to fictional characters, external metafictional sentences cannot be paraphrased in this way, and their truth really does commit us to fictional characters (see, for example, Schiffer (1996) and Thomasson (2003b)).

SEP

For the antirealist, the semantics of names presents an important hurdle to attempts to accommodate the truth of internal and external metafictional sentences featuring fictional names.

SEP

Once external metafictional sentences are read this way, any apparent commitment to fictional entities seems to disappear, provided once again that the resulting complex sentences are read de dicto.

SEP

Now, it is certainly true that insisting on the need to preserve the validity of the above inferences in any account of external metafictional sentences is a good antidote to the antirealist 'paraphrase' strategy.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the term "external sentence", clearly define the context or framework from which the sentence is considered external to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "external sentence" when you simply mean a sentence that is unrelated or irrelevant to the current topic. "External" implies a specific relationship to a defined context, not just a lack of connection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "external sentence" functions primarily as a descriptor, used to classify sentences based on their relationship to a specific context, viewpoint, or system. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct. It indicates that the sentence is being considered from a position outside of something else.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

News & Media

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "external sentence" is a grammatically correct term, as validated by Ludwig AI, used to classify sentences based on their relationship to a specific context or framework. Although uncommon, its usage is primarily found in formal academic, scientific, and philosophical discussions. When using this phrase, it is important to clearly define the context to which the sentence is external, and avoid using it when the sentence is merely unrelated. Alternatives such as "outer statement" or "independent clause" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outer statement

This alternative focuses on the idea of a statement existing outside of a defined scope.

independent clause

This term refers to a clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence, emphasizing its self-contained nature.

contextual sentence

This highlights the sentence's dependence on surrounding information for full meaning.

ancillary sentence

This term suggests the sentence provides supporting or additional information.

supplementary sentence

Similar to 'ancillary sentence', this indicates the sentence adds extra details.

peripheral sentence

This emphasizes that the sentence is not central to the main idea.

adjunct sentence

This implies the sentence is attached or connected but not essential.

associated sentence

This highlights a connection or relationship with other sentences or information.

related statement

A more general term for a statement connected to the main topic.

external remark

Focuses on the comment's origin outside a primary subject.

FAQs

How is an "external sentence" different from an "internal sentence" in fictional discourse?

In the context of fictional discourse, an "external sentence" refers to a statement about the fictional world from an outside perspective, such as "Hamlet has fascinated many psychoanalysts." This contrasts with an internal sentence, which describes events within the story itself, like "Hamlet hates his stepfather."

What does "external sentence" mean in the context of linguistics?

In linguistics, "external sentence" can refer to a sentence token that is public or physically realized, such as piles of ink or sound waves. This distinguishes it from an internal sentence token, which exists as a mental representation.

When might I use the term "external sentence" in philosophical discussions?

In philosophy, you might use "external sentence" when discussing different interpretations of negation or in the context of logical empiricism, where the truth of sentences depends on how things are arranged in the external world. See also "external judgment".

What are some alternatives to using the term "external sentence"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "outer statement", "independent clause", or "contextual sentence" to convey the idea of a sentence considered from an outside or broader perspective.