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criteria vs criterion

Both 'criteria' and 'criterion' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Criteria' is the plural form of 'criterion' and is used when referring to multiple standards or principles. 'Criterion' is the singular form and is used when referring to a single standard or principle.

Last updated: March 19, 2024 • 1078 views

criteria

This is the plural form of 'criterion' and is commonly used when referring to multiple standards or principles.

Use 'criteria' when you are talking about multiple standards or principles that are used to judge or decide something.

Examples:

  • The criteria for selecting the best candidate include experience, qualifications, and communication skills.
  • The criteria for evaluating the project's success are cost, time, and quality.
  • The word criteria is often treated as singular or even uncountable, but these uses are usually still considered incorrect; the standard singular form is criterion.
  • Like some other nouns borrowed from the Greek, criterion has both a Greek plural, criteria, and a plural formed on the English pattern, criterions. The plural in -a ...
  • In standard usage, the plural is generally criteria, although criterions is sometimes used as well. Properly speaking, the form criteria should never be a singular ...
  • The plural criteria has been used as a singular for over half a century <let me now return to the third criteria — R. M. Nixon> <that really is the criteria — Bert ...

Alternatives:

  • standards
  • principles
  • requirements
  • factors

criterion

This is the singular form of 'criteria' and is used when referring to a single standard or principle.

Use 'criterion' when you are talking about a single standard or principle that is used to judge or decide something.

Examples:

  • The main criterion for the job position is a bachelor's degree.
  • The most important criterion for success is dedication.
  • ... a screening of his new film, he brought along its legendary star, Charlotte Rampling. Watch what happened when the two took a trip into the Criterion Closet.
  • The Criterion Collection is dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions of the highest technical quality, with ...
  • This volume gathers highlights from designs commissioned by the Criterion Collection, featuring covers, supplemental art, and never-before-seen sketches and ...
  • The Criterion® Online Writing Evaluation service from ETS is a web-based instructional writing tool that helps students, plan, write and revise their essays ...

Alternatives:

  • standard
  • principle
  • requirement
  • factor

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