Is Criterion Singular or Plural?
The word criterion is singular. It refers to a single standard, rule, or principle used to judge something. The plural form is criteria. If you have more than one standard, you use criteria. This is a common point of confusion because many English speakers treat criteria as a singular noun, but in careful academic and professional writing, the distinction matters.
Quick Answer
- Criterion = singular (one standard).
- Criteria = plural (two or more standards).
- In formal writing, always use criterion for one and criteria for many.
- In informal conversation, you may hear criteria used as singular, but this is not considered correct in academic or professional contexts.
Understanding the Singular and Plural Forms
Criterion comes from Greek, and it follows the Greek plural pattern: -on changes to -a. Other words that follow this pattern include phenomenon (singular) and phenomena (plural), and datum (singular) and data (plural). While data is now often accepted as singular in many contexts, criteria is still widely expected to be plural in formal English.
When you write an academic paper, a business report, or a formal email, using criterion for one standard and criteria for multiple standards shows attention to detail. In everyday conversation, you might hear someone say, “The main criteria is cost,” but a careful writer would say, “The main criterion is cost” (singular) or “The main criteria are cost and quality” (plural).
Comparison Table: Criterion vs. Criteria
| Feature | Criterion (Singular) | Criteria (Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| Number | One | Two or more |
| Example sentence | The only criterion is experience. | The criteria are experience and education. |
| Verb agreement | Singular verb (e.g., is, was, has) | Plural verb (e.g., are, were, have) |
| Formal writing | Always correct | Always correct when plural |
| Informal speech | Sometimes replaced by criteria | Often used incorrectly as singular |
| Common mistake | Using criteria for one standard | Using a singular verb with criteria |
Natural Examples
Here are examples that show how criterion and criteria are used in real writing and conversation.
Formal / Academic Context
- Singular: “The main criterion for admission is a strong academic record.”
- Plural: “The selection criteria include grades, test scores, and letters of recommendation.”
- Plural: “Several criteria were used to evaluate the proposals.”
Informal / Conversation Context
- Singular (careful): “What is your main criterion for choosing a restaurant?”
- Plural (careful): “My criteria are good food and reasonable prices.”
- Common informal (less careful): “The main criteria is price.” (This is grammatically incorrect but heard often.)
Email Context
- Singular: “Please let me know the criterion you will use to decide.”
- Plural: “Could you share the criteria for this year’s award?”
Common Mistakes
Even native speakers make mistakes with these words. Here are the most frequent errors and how to fix them.
Mistake 1: Using “criteria” as a singular noun
Incorrect: “The main criteria is cost.”
Correct: “The main criterion is cost.” (singular) or “The main criteria are cost and quality.” (plural)
Mistake 2: Using “criterion” as a plural noun
Incorrect: “These criterion are outdated.”
Correct: “These criteria are outdated.”
Mistake 3: Forgetting verb agreement
Incorrect: “The criteria for success has changed.”
Correct: “The criteria for success have changed.”
Mistake 4: Using “criterias” as a plural
Incorrect: “We have several criterias to consider.”
Correct: “We have several criteria to consider.”
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Sometimes you may want to avoid the confusion between criterion and criteria altogether. Here are simpler alternatives that work in many contexts.
| Instead of | Use | When |
|---|---|---|
| criterion | standard, rule, requirement, measure | In everyday writing or speech to avoid confusion |
| criteria | standards, rules, requirements, measures | When you want to be clear and natural |
Example: Instead of “What is the criterion for approval?” you can say “What is the requirement for approval?” This is simpler and avoids any grammar doubt.
However, in academic or technical writing, criterion and criteria are the precise terms. Use them when you need to sound professional or when the word is part of the field’s vocabulary (e.g., in research, evaluation, or statistics).
Mini Practice: Criterion or Criteria?
Choose the correct word for each sentence. Answers are below.
- The most important __________ is customer satisfaction. (criterion / criteria)
- All __________ must be met before the project is approved. (criterion / criteria)
- What __________ did you use to select the winner? (criterion / criteria)
- This __________ is no longer relevant. (criterion / criteria)
Answers
- criterion (singular: “The most important criterion is customer satisfaction.”)
- criteria (plural: “All criteria must be met…”)
- criteria (plural: “What criteria did you use…”)
- criterion (singular: “This criterion is no longer relevant.”)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is “criteria” ever correct as a singular noun?
In very informal speech, some people use criteria as a singular noun, but this is not considered correct in formal or academic writing. Stick to criterion for singular and criteria for plural to be safe.
2. Can I use “criterions” as a plural?
No. Criterions is not a standard English word. The only correct plural is criteria.
3. What is the difference between “criterion” and “standard”?
A criterion is a specific principle or test used to make a judgment. A standard is a level of quality or achievement. They are often interchangeable, but criterion is more precise in evaluation contexts.
4. How do I remember the difference?
Think of other Greek words: phenomenon (one) and phenomena (many). If you remember that -on is singular and -a is plural, you will never confuse criterion and criteria.
Final Note
Using criterion and criteria correctly is a small but powerful way to improve your academic and professional writing. When you write a paper, an email, or a report, take a moment to check whether you are talking about one standard or many. This attention to detail will make your writing clearer and more credible.
For more help with singular and plural forms, visit our Singular or Plural Checks section. You can also explore Common Plural Forms and Confusing Plurals for other tricky words. If you have questions, check our FAQ page or contact us.
