Criteria vs Criterion | Meaning & Difference
Criterion is the singular form of criteria.
- A criterion is a measure, standard or guideline used to make decisions or evaluations (e.g., “Price was the key criterion”).
- The plural of this noun is criteria (e.g., “Price was only one of the criteria”).
| Criteria in a sentence | Criterion |
|---|---|
| We have simplified the assessment criteria. | Each criterion now only contains five descriptors. |
| We need to introduce a set of objective selection criteria. | Formal academic achievements should not be the sole criterion. |
| What are your criteria for judging the success of a project? | Cost is an important criterion but not the only one. |
However, in practice, and particularly in speech, “criteria” is also increasingly being used as a singular noun (e.g., “Age should not be a criteria”) and in an uncountable sense when referring to a “set” of individual requirements or standards (e.g., “The criteria is not objective enough”).
Criteria definition
Criteria are measures, standards, or guidelines used to make assessments or decisions. The word is the plural form of the noun “criterion” and frequently combines with the verbs “meet, “use,” and “base.”
We use an objective set of criteria to evaluate the success of our projects.
Our evaluation was based on the following criteria.
Criterion definition
A criterion is a standard, measure or factor used for making decisions or assessments (the singular form of the word “criteria”). It is used to refer to an individual element in a set of criteria and as a synonym for “requirement.”
Quality is a very important criterion for us.
Criterium vs criteria
Criterium is not the singular form of criteria; it is “criterion.” A criterium is a type of bicycle race that takes place on public roads.
- Managerial experience is a key criterion for the job.
- Managerial experience is a key criterium for the job.
Frequently asked questions about criteria vs criterion
- Is it criterions or criteria?
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Criterions is a rarely used plural form of the noun “criterion.” The standard plural form is criteria.
Criterions (rare plural) in a sentence example We evaluated the proposals according to a wide range of criterions including practicality and costs.On a related note, if you’re not sure whether to use criteria or criterion: “criterion” is the singular form, and “criteria” is the plural form.
Have you tried Quillbot’s free Grammar Checker? It will help you choose the correct plural form of nouns with irregular plurals such as “criterion.”
- Is criteria singular or plural?
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This tip will help you if you’re wondering whether the word you need is criteria or criterion: in formal contexts, use criteria as a plural noun and “criterion” as a singular noun.
Correct use of criteria and criterion examples - The criteria are objective.
- The criteria is objective.
- What are your criteria?
- What is your criteria?
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to pick up errors in subject-verb agreement such as “criteria is.”
- What is a synonym for criteria?
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Synonyms for the plural noun criteria include:
- Decision-making factors
- Evaluation guidelines
- Requirements
- Standards
- Benchmarks
On a related note, if you’re not sure whether the word you need is criteria or criterion: “criterion” is the singular and “criteria” the plural.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to help you find the best synonym for “criteria” in your specific context.
