Is the word characters a collective noun?

Yes, "characters" can be considered a collective noun when it refers to a group of people in a story, play, or movie.

Here's why:

* Represents a group: It refers to multiple individuals collectively, not just one person.

* Singular verb agreement: When referring to the group as a whole, the verb used should be singular: "The characters in the novel are complex."

* Plural for individuals: If you're referring to the individual characters, you would use the plural form: "The characters all had their own unique personalities."

However, "characters" can also be used as a regular plural noun referring to individual letters, symbols, or markings. In this case, it's not a collective noun.

So, it depends on the context. If you're talking about the people in a story, it's a collective noun. If you're talking about letters or symbols, it's not.