Final answer:
The alphabetic characters mentioned are called letters, which make up the English alphabet consisting of twenty-six characters. Letters are distinct from numbers, which are composed of digits ranging from 0 to 9.
Step-by-step explanation:
The alphabetic characters referred to in the question are known as letters. They form the basis of the English language and many other languages, using a set of symbolic shapes that correspond to vocal sounds. In the English alphabet, there are twenty-six letters, some of which are always vowels (like , , , and ), while others are always consonants. It is important to differentiate letters from numbers, which are made up of digits such as 0 to 9 and can include a decimal point.