Criteria-Criterion | Commonly Confused Words
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Criteria vs. Criterion

Criteria

/kraɪ'tɪərɪə/
Rules or standards used to judge or decide something

Examples:

The chef uses several criteria to judge the competition dishes.Students must meet certain criteria to graduate with honors.Job applicants are evaluated based on specific criteria.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

This word has no antonyms

Criterion

/kraɪˈtɪəriən/
A principle or standard by which something is judged or assessed.

Examples:

Apprentices learned three broad criteria of scientific judgment.The third criterion was originality.A key criterion was the project's sustainability potential.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Remember that criteria is the plural form, while criterion is singular.
  • Use criterion when referring to a single standard or principle.
  • Use criteria when discussing multiple standards or principles.
  • Think of the -on at the end of criterion as standing alone, just like the single standard it represents.
  • Visualize a single criterion as one point on a checklist, whereas criteria means several points on that list.
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