  The second move Sylvan makes in response to the triviality problem is represented by the idea that, even though it is the case that every time we refer to something we refer to an item, the item in question has characterizing properties. Following Berto (2013), we can also say that, consistent with some other neo-Meinongians (i.e., Jacquette 2015; Parsons 1980), Sylvan argues in favour of the following characterization principle: