goodness of character

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "goodness of character" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's positive qualities of character. For example, "He displayed such goodness of character that he was given a medal of honor for his bravery."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

In this case, it is the goodness of the character of the person who does or would perform it that determines the rightness of an action.

SEP

Mr. Crudup plays a lost, irresponsible and stupid young man with discipline and intelligence, using every muscle in his face to suggest the unreachable emotion and the accidental goodness of his character.

The New York Times

Popperian falsification has been used to argue for the justification of one inference method over others (one out of many ways of measuring goodness-of-fit of characters to phylogenetic trees is claimed as uniquely capturing the idea of falsification; for review, see Faith and Trueman 2001).

SEP

The actual reasons why people might not exercise - time, money, health, inclination, fear, for starters – don't have much to do with inherent goodness or strength of character.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even Frank Langella, an actor who can be counted on to put the pepper in mashed-potato parts, doesn't find much variety in the monolithic goodness of the title character of "A Man for All Seasons," Robert Bolt's 1960 biodrama about More's road to martyrdom during the reign of Henry VIII.

The New York Times

The "external form of the inner character of a human being" (ibid., p. 322) is the ideal of beauty, when the beauty of that external form expresses the goodness of the internal character; correspondingly, the external expression of inner evil is the most hateful form of appearance.

SEP

The goodness-of-fit for each set of characters was measured using the Retention Index (RI), which calculates the number of homoplastic changes a cladogram requires that are independent of the number of characters in the data (for a more detailed description, see Farris 1989).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

"It's been a chance for us to revisit the goodness of this traditional Japanese character".

The New York Times

Nobility of character, old-fashioned goodness, leads to a good starting place following death, stinginess and cruelty and laziness to a bad.

HuffPost

Among 150 characters with RI = 1, there were three times as many morphological characters, and twice as many RAG2 characters as expected if all character types were equally distributed (G-test of goodness-of-fit G3 = 96.172, P = 1.03E−20).

Biological Reviews

Curtis remains a little too obsessed with his characters' goodness of heart.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a person, use "goodness of character" to highlight their positive ethical and moral qualities, especially in situations where they demonstrate integrity and compassion.

Common error

Avoid using "goodness of character" as a generic descriptor. Use it when you want to specifically emphasize the moral and ethical dimensions of someone's personality, rather than simply stating they are "good."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "goodness of character" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the moral and ethical qualities inherent in a person's nature. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "goodness of character" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote positive moral and ethical qualities. Though Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, the phrase currently shows limited frequency across sources, appearing most often in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Alternatives like "ethical integrity" or "virtuous nature" offer similar meanings. When using the phrase, focus on instances where ethical and moral dimensions are central to the description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

honorable character

Similar, but emphasizes honor and integrity.

virtuous nature

Emphasizes the inherent possession of virtues.

moral excellence

Highlights superior moral qualities.

ethical integrity

Highlights the adherence to moral principles and honesty.

principled behavior

Focuses on actions guided by strong moral principles.

moral rectitude

Emphasizes moral correctness and integrity.

moral strength

Focuses on the fortitude and ethical resilience, rather than overall positive nature.

ethical fiber

Implies an intrinsic moral quality or strength.

uprightness

Stresses honesty and moral behavior.

noble spirit

Suggests elevated moral and ethical values.

FAQs

How can I use "goodness of character" in a sentence?

You can use "goodness of character" to describe someone's positive qualities, such as honesty, integrity, and compassion. For example, "The mayor was known for her "honorable character" and dedication to public service".

What is a synonym for "goodness of character"?

Synonyms include "moral strength", "ethical integrity", and "virtuous nature". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "goodness of character" differ from "being a good person"?

"Goodness of character" specifically emphasizes moral and ethical qualities, while "being a good person" is a broader term that can include kindness, helpfulness, and other positive attributes. The former focuses on inherent moral traits, while the latter describes overall behavior and disposition.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use the phrase "goodness of character"?

This phrase is particularly suitable when discussing ethical behavior, moral decisions, or the inherent values of an individual. It is often used in formal or serious contexts where moral assessment is important.