We can define general characteristics as qualities or features that describe the distinctive nature or features of an individual organism or of a group. Characteristics may aid in identifying a particular group that shares common distinctive features or they may help set an individual or a group apart from the others. The common synonyms for characteristics are attributes, qualities, features, and traits. However, “trait” is more general than “characteristic”. Traits include all attributes whereas characteristics are traits that “characterize“, meaning “identify” and may therefore be used to “categorize”.