The validity of a formula or its truth value (or, in a more general sense, its evaluation) can be evaluated only if the formula is well formed with respect to a given set of syntax rules.
So, a formula in general , and in the context of mathematics or logic, means a well-formed formula.
Strictly speaking, you can say that if your characters include '+' | '(' | ')' | 'a'-'z', the formula in the strict sense is any string formed by these characters. For example, a((++zthis is a formula.But you also need to look at the rules for constructing the formula. And if the rules, for example,
F,E ::= F + E | (F) | 'a'-'z'
then your formula is poorly formed.
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