mice are black

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mice are black" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the color of mice in a general or specific context. Example: "In the laboratory, we observed that the mice are black, which is a common trait for this breed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

C57BL/6J mice are black, with pink ears and long pink tails.

The New Yorker

Concerning the agouti coat: BTBR mice have tan coats, whereas B6 mice are black; this is due to a gene on chromosome 2, and the BTBR allele is dominant.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

While the heterozygous Tyr-Cre:: Smarca4mel+/− mice were black, homozygous Tyr-Cre:: Smarca4mel−/− mice were either completely white or had occasional black spotting presumably arising from rare melanoblasts that had escaped Cre-driven recombination during embryogenesis.

eLife

Values of vehicle-treated (control) mice are displayed in black (triangles), values of GM6001-treated mine in grey (circles); values of animals with monocular deprivation (+MD) are marked by displaying the right half of the symbol in black.

eLife

The skeletal muscles surrounding growing collaterals after femoral artery occlusion in black mice are never ischemic (tested by electron spin resonance resulting in normal muscular pO2 and by magnetic resonance spectroscopy resulting in normal ATP and PCR values) [ 62, 156] but collateral vessels develop nevertheless and much faster than in ischemic white mice under the same circumstances.

Basic Research in Cardiology

The owners of facility C reported that 6 months before the outbreak, wild mice had infested the feed storage areas, and the owners noted occasional litters of mice born with black eyes (colony mice are albino), indicating that wild mice had interbred with the colony mice.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

At this age, WT (black, n = 18) and R306C Tg (blue, n = 17) mice are indistinguishable.

eLife

The hind paws of mice were dipped in black India Ink and mice were allowed to walk down a corridor lined with white paper.

Plosone

At P10, WT mice were covered by black hair as shown in Fig. 2C, Ta mice formed a dense uniformly short yellow hair coat, but TaDk4TG mice were completely hairless (Fig. 4A).

Plosone

A Lashley III maze, scaled for use with mice, was constructed from black Plexiglas and located in a dimly lit room (10 Lux at the floor of the maze).

Plosone

Where indicated, these G-CC null mice were crossed with Black Swiss outbred mice (NTac NIHBS, Taconic, Hudson, NY) and the resulting heterozygous mice mated to generate homozygous wild type (WT) controls and GC-C null littermates (F2 generation).

BMC Gastroenterology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing mice in scientific contexts, use "mice are black" to clearly and directly state their coloration, ensuring clarity and precision in your writing. If you need to provide a specific detail, consider mentioning specific strains such as C57BL/6J, known for its black coat.

Common error

Avoid assuming all mice are black. While certain strains or populations may exhibit this trait, mouse coloration varies widely. Be specific about the population or breed you are describing to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mice are black" functions as a descriptive statement. It attributes a specific characteristic (black coloration) to a subject (mice). According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mice are black" is a grammatically sound and frequently used statement to describe the color of mice, especially in scientific and research contexts. According to Ludwig, it is considered correct and usable. While seemingly simple, it's important to remember that not all mice are black, and specifying the strain or population helps ensure accuracy. When writing, be specific about the context and consider alternative phrases if you need to convey slightly different nuances. The prevalence of this phrase in scientific literature makes it a key descriptor in academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

black mice exist

Focuses on the existence of black-colored mice.

mice exhibit black coloration

Uses more formal language to describe the color of mice.

the mice have black fur

Specifies that the black color is due to the fur.

black is a mouse color

States black as one of the colors mice can be.

some mice are melanistic

Uses a scientific term to describe dark pigmentation in mice.

certain mouse breeds are black

Highlights the breed-specific nature of black coloration in mice.

dark-colored mice are present

Indicates the presence of mice with dark coloration as a broader description.

mice display black coats

Emphasizes the appearance of a black coat on the mice.

black pelage is observed in mice

Uses scientific terminology to denote the presence of black fur.

the mice are predominantly black

Indicates that black is the primary color observed in a group of mice.

FAQs

How can I describe the color of mice in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, use the phrase "mice are black" when referring to mice with black fur. You can also specify the strain, such as C57BL/6, if relevant. For example, "C57BL/6 mice "are black" and commonly used in research".

What are some alternative ways to say "mice are black"?

Alternatives include "black mice exist", "mice exhibit black coloration", or "the mice have black fur", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it accurate to say all mice are black?

No, it is not accurate. While some strains of mice are black, mouse coloration varies widely. Be specific about the particular strain or population you are describing. For example, instead of saying all mice are black, one could more accurately say "C57BL/6 mice "are black"".

In what contexts is the phrase "mice are black" commonly used?

The phrase is commonly used in scientific and research contexts when describing the characteristics of specific mouse strains, as well as in general descriptions. You'll find it in scientific articles and reports.