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I've been asked to replace the use of "met" and "not met" in terms of test criteria results to "pass" or "fail." I'm struggling since it seems to me that criteria cannot pass; criteria must be met. The tested system can pass a test by meeting criteria, but can it pass criteria? Even with the possibility of rewriting MANY sentences, they want "met" and "not met" (e.g., The criterion was met) turned into "passed" and "failed." Isn't my only option to rewrite it as "The test system passed since it met the criterion?" (or "The test system passed by meeting the criterion?"). Is it sufficient to just say "The test system passed?"

Then there's the issue when the criteria were "partially met." (i.e., it met "A" and "B" but failed "C.") Thank you for your thoughts on this!

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  • This seems to be more a question of domain-specific test definition than it is a question about the English Language.
    – KillingTime
    Mar 9 at 16:48
  • Keep it simple: if something passed its tests, you don't have to explain that "passing a test" means "meeting the required criteria". As to the last paragraph: "The test was passed because 2 of the 3 requirements were satisfied".
    – Weather Vane
    Mar 9 at 16:58
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    Criteria are abstractions set up by advisory boards. They can't be done anything with, except ignored. Tests can be passed, expectations can be met or exceeded; criteria are handwaving.
    – John Lawler
    Mar 9 at 17:20
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    @JohnLawler Subversive: They can't be done anything with.
    – Yosef Baskin
    Mar 9 at 17:26
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    I agree with your intuition that criteria can be said to be 'met' but not 'passed'.
    – Lawrence
    Mar 9 at 17:43

2 Answers 2

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I support your feelings.

Merriam Webster
criterion:
a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based

Hence a criterion cannot pass or fail. People or tests made against a criterion may fail but the criterion is merely a reference point, a standard.

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A system can pass the criterion — that is to say, pass the test.

criterion, n.
b. A test, principle, rule, canon, or standard, by which anything is judged or estimated.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary (login required)

See it in action.

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  • There are certainly many examples of "pass the criterion/ia" ("Lures that pass the criterion are false alarms" was one of the first), but "X passed the criterion" sounds more natural than "the criterion was passed" - in the latter case I'd use "met".
    – Stuart F
    Mar 10 at 9:30

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