he characterized that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he characterized that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when someone is describing or defining something, but it requires a direct object to be complete. Example: "He characterized that event as a turning point in history."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

He characterized that loss as a short-term setback.

The Guardian

He characterized that situation as "the company's standing behind the C.E.O.

The New York Times

He characterized that possibility partly as a response to pressures from the Kurdish population in the north.

The New York Times

After Fitzgerald began writing "The Great Gatsby," he characterized that theme of disillusionment in a letter to a friend.

The New Yorker

Nor did Austin find any difficulty incorporating judicial lawmaking into his command theory: he characterized that form of lawmaking, along with the occasional legal/judicial recognition of customs by judges, as the "tacit commands" of the sovereign, the sovereign's affirming the "orders" by its acquiescence (Austin 1832: Lecture 1, pp. 35 36).

SEP

He characterized that as modest given the stimulus package and estimated an increase closer to 3percentt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Ms. McGrath characterized that strategy as necessarily fluid.

The New York Times

Mr. Dauman characterized that deal yesterday as an "experiment".

The New York Times - Tech

"There's a dirty-martini drinker out there," he said, characterizing that drinker as "smoky".

The New York Times - Style

He characterized everything that appeared in his simple tales with three, four, or even five adjectives and then repeated them, like Homer, every time the noun appeared.

The New Yorker

Interpretive analysis is also illustrated in the nineteenth century by Bentham's conception of paraphrasis, which he characterized as "that sort of exposition which may be afforded by transmuting into a proposition, having for its subject some real entity, a proposition which has not for its subject any other than a fictitious entity" [Full Quotation].

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he characterized that", ensure a clear and specific direct object follows to avoid grammatical ambiguity. For example, "He characterized that event as pivotal."

Common error

Avoid using "he characterized that" without specifying what was being characterized. Without a direct object, the phrase is grammatically incomplete and lacks clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he characterized that" functions as a verbal phrase where "characterized" is the main verb indicating the action of describing something, while "that" refers to something previously mentioned or understood. As Ludwig AI points out, it often requires completion with a direct object or further explanation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "he characterized that" appears in various sources, including the New York Times and The Guardian, it's essential to use it with caution. As Ludwig AI underlines, the phrase is grammatically incomplete without a direct object specifying what was being characterized. Consider using alternatives such as "he described that" or "he defined that" for improved clarity. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for news and media contexts, but always ensure it's grammatically sound and contextually clear to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he described that

Replaces "characterized" with a more common and less formal synonym, "described".

he defined that

Substitutes "characterized" with "defined", focusing on providing a specific meaning or explanation.

he portrayed that

Uses "portrayed" instead of "characterized", emphasizing the way something was presented or depicted.

he labeled that

Replaces "characterized" with "labeled", suggesting the act of assigning a category or identifier.

he depicted that

Uses "depicted" to convey a visual or descriptive representation, differing slightly in focus.

he presented that

Changes "characterized" to "presented", focusing on the manner of introduction or display.

he explained that

Shifts from characterizing to providing an explanation or understanding.

he interpreted that

Uses "interpreted" to focus on understanding and explaining the meaning of something.

he assessed that

Replaces "characterized" with "assessed", highlighting an evaluation or judgment.

he viewed that

Substitutes with "viewed" to indicate a perspective or opinion on something.

FAQs

How can I use "he characterized that" correctly in a sentence?

To use "he characterized that" correctly, follow it with a noun or noun phrase specifying what he characterized and how. For instance, "He characterized that decision as bold".

What are some alternatives to "he characterized that"?

Consider using alternatives like "he described that", "he defined that", or "he portrayed that" for clarity and variety.

Is "he characterized that" always grammatically incorrect?

While not always incorrect, "he characterized that" often sounds incomplete without a direct object specifying what was characterized and the characterization itself. Rephrasing is often preferable.

What's the difference between "he characterized that" and "he characterized it as"?

"He characterized it as" is grammatically clearer because "it" serves as a placeholder for something previously mentioned, making the sentence more complete and understandable compared to "he characterized that".