Grammar and Punctuation The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

Criteria

Criteria is the plural of criterion, a standard used for judging, deciding, or acting. The sentence Honesty is our chief criteria is ungrammatical; there can't be only one criteria. Make it Honesty is our chief criterion or Honesty is one of our chief criteria. Your criteria are your standards, plural.

Those who know that criteria is plural aren't out of the woods yet either: many believe the singular is "criterium." And there are some who will reveal to you their "criterias."


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