Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 7 down vote favorite

I came across several forums and articles saying that criteria is plural and criterion is singular. Some gave me the impression that criterion is used to denote a set of rules.

What is the correct use of these two words?

share|improve this question
So is it correct to say "There are three criteria to this project?" – user18795 Mar 5 '12 at 20:39
@Mike: 'one criterion', 'three criteria'. 'criteria/on to this..' sounds weird. Use 'criteria for...'. Though your punctuation is probably correct for American writing, from a logical use/mention aspect, you should say: '... "...this project." ?'. That is, the punctuation for the quote, inside the quote and the punctuation for the sentence at large outside the quote. – Mitch Mar 5 '12 at 22:48

3 Answers

up vote 13 down vote accepted

According to Merriam-Webster.com, criteria is indeed plural and criterion is singular. The dictionary definition is "a standard on which a judgement or decision may be made"; it's often used synonymously with "requirement(s)", as in "if you don't meet the criteria you won't be allowed in" or "I have one all-important criterion by which I judge potential plumbing contractors: is their shirt tucked in to their belted pants?"

M-W.com also notes that the use of "criteria" as singular has been gaining ground for a long time (50 years or so) and may be considered acceptable usage by now.

(To which I say, fight the change! Use "criterion" correctly!)

share|improve this answer
2  
For those for whom criteria is singular, what is the plural? Criterias? Criteriae? Criterions? :-) – ShreevatsaR Feb 12 '11 at 15:47
2  
It's all just "criteria". One criteria, two criteria. Just like fish, I guess. – Hellion Feb 12 '11 at 15:49
3  
Like fish? I thought the plural of fish was fishies. You know, "Oh, lots of colorful fishies!". – Jürgen A. Erhard Feb 12 '11 at 17:41
+1: I will note that of the three answers here so far, Hellion's is the only one that actually answers the OP's question. – Robusto Feb 12 '11 at 17:51
Anyone notice a difference when used in a technical context, such as in code? – Alvin Reyes Aug 13 '12 at 21:13
up vote 3 down vote

Criterion comes from Classical Greek. Its gender is neuter and it belongs to the second declension — like the word phenomenon.

share|improve this answer
+1 for mentioning phenomenon/a before I had the chance to :-) – Grewe Kokkor Feb 12 '11 at 17:12
up vote 1 down vote

I would say that criteria is used to denote a set of rules, and that one of those rules would be a criterion.

Actually, I wouldn't say that, as a criterion and a rule aren't quite the same thing. I'd make a GRE-style analogy: Criteria is to set of rules as criterion is to rule.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.