informational entity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "informational entity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to data, knowledge management, or information systems to refer to a unit or component that conveys information. Example: "In our database, each informational entity is categorized based on its type and relevance to the user."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

SEP

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

We think that the reification of "the informational gene" is problematic; it is a mistake to suppose that there is both a physical entity — a string of bases — and an informational entity, a message.

SEP

Secondly, this work explores the size and characteristics of the ecosystem in which these sites reside and the links that are made between other entities (i.e., viewing the ecosystem as an informational entity that can be studied).

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Dawkins dubbed these entities "memes", and they were characterized as informational entities which infect our brains, "leaping from head to head" via what we ordinarily call imitation.

SEP

Furthermore, all other (physical and informational) entities, such as descriptors, reactions, and macromolecules should also have canonical representations from which consistent identifiers could be obtained.

Journal of Cheminformatics

The Media Sorter module accumulates a frame of informational entities that are presented to the modal channels represented in this diagram as boxes with ART labels.

Security Informatics

Characterizing the special dynamics inherent in the living cell may be a precondition for understanding the information production processes on which other emergent informational entities are based, particularly, nervous systems and societies.

Biosystems

Examples of units of selection include: units of life [6] such as organisms and lymphocytes evolving by somatic selection [7], but also purely informational entities such as viruses, machine code programs [8] and binary strings in a genetic algorithm [9].

Plosone

The non-meiotic and mostly uniparental inheritance of chloroplast genes render them as most informational entities in plant phylogenetic studies.

BMC Plant Biology

There are qualitative points of similarity between such compositional entities and quasispecies of sequence-based entities such as RNA molecules or viruses: both cases embody an ensemble of informational entities displaying a relatively high degree of mutual differences.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

However, the TOL and the NOG are often confounded, maybe because genes are the only informational entities that are transmitted from one generation to another, whereas TOL and NOG represent two different things that are equally interesting and highly complementary to understand the evolution of living organisms [ 5, 14].

Biology Direct

In all organisms, the informational and catalytic entities in the genome are well-separated into respectively dsDNA and ssRNA, and can therefore be seen as the mechanistic implementation of these functional modules.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "informational entity", ensure the context clearly defines the type of information and its relevance to the subject. For example, specify whether it's a biological, digital, or conceptual entity.

Common error

Avoid using "informational entity" without specifying the domain or type of information. This can lead to ambiguity. Instead, provide context such as "biological informational entity" or "digital informational entity".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "informational entity" functions as a noun phrase where "informational" modifies the noun "entity". It designates something that exists as a discrete and defined unit capable of conveying or representing information. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "informational entity" is a noun phrase used to describe a discrete unit that conveys or represents information. It is grammatically correct and found primarily in scientific and technical contexts, reflecting its role in categorizing data, biological components, and abstract concepts, as supported by Ludwig. While relatively rare, its precise meaning makes it valuable in fields requiring unambiguous communication. When using this term, be sure to provide sufficient context to avoid overgeneralization and ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

information object

More formal and emphasizes the object-oriented nature.

informational component

Highlights the role as a part of a larger system.

data element

Focuses on the data aspect rather than the informational.

semantic unit

Highlights the meaning and context of the information.

informational resource

Broader term emphasizing the utility of the entity.

knowledge unit

Highlights the structured and processed aspect of information.

knowledge representation

Focuses on how the information is structured and organized.

digital asset

Emphasizes the digital nature and value of the entity.

information piece

More informal and general way to refer to a unit of information.

data point

Emphasizes the specific and atomic nature of the information.

FAQs

How can I use "informational entity" in a sentence?

You can use "informational entity" to refer to a unit that conveys information, such as in the sentence: "Each "informational entity" in the database is categorized by type and relevance."

What are some alternatives to "informational entity"?

Alternatives include "data element", "information object", or "knowledge unit", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is "informational entity" a formal term?

Yes, "informational entity" is a relatively formal term, suitable for academic, scientific, or technical writing. In more casual contexts, simpler terms like "piece of information" might be more appropriate.

What distinguishes an "informational entity" from a physical entity?

An "informational entity" is concerned with the data or meaning it represents, whereas a physical entity is a tangible object. For example, a DNA sequence is a physical entity, while the genetic information it encodes can be considered an "informational entity".