Have you ever come across the word criterion and wondered what its plural form is? If yes, you’re not alone! This word can feel a little tricky, especially for beginners or non native English speakers. Many people confuse its plural with other similar looking words. Some even guess incorrectly, because English plurals often follow regular patterns, but not always.

In this article, we’ll walk step by step through everything you need to know about the plural of criterion. Don’t worry we’ll keep it friendly, simple, and fun. By the end, you’ll feel confident using this word in both speaking and writing.

Let’s dive in!

What Does “Criterion” Mean?

Before we talk about the plural, let’s first understand what criterion actually means.

• Criterion is a noun.
• It means a standard, principle, or rule that you use to judge something or make a decision.

Think of it like a measuring stick. Whenever you need to make a choice, you might have certain rules or standards in your mind. Those rules are your criteria (don’t worry we’ll come back to that word soon).

Examples:

• “One important criterion for admission is good grades.”
• “Price is often the main criterion when people shop for a new phone.”

So, in short, a criterion is like a single rule or standard.

What Is the Plural of “Criterion”?

Here’s the most important part:

• The plural of criterion is criteria.

Yes, it changes completely. Instead of adding an “s” like many English words, it transforms into a different form.

Examples:

• “The teacher listed several criteria for the project.”
• “When buying a house, people usually consider many criteria like location, size, and budget.”

So remember: one criterion, many criteria.

Why Isn’t the Plural “Criterions”?

Great question! English words usually form plurals by adding “s” or “es,” like book → books or box → boxes. So why not criterion → criterions?

The answer lies in the word’s history.

Criterion comes from Greek. In Greek, words ending in on often change to a in the plural. English borrowed the word and kept this rule. That’s why we get criterion → criteria.

It’s the same pattern we see in other Greek based words:

• phenomenon → phenomena
• automaton → automata

Pretty neat, right?

Is “Criteria” Singular or Plural?

This is a common confusion. Many people mistakenly use criteria as a singular word. You might hear sentences like:

• “The most important criteria is price.”

Technically, that’s incorrect. Criteria is plural, so it should pair with plural verbs:

• “The most important criteria are price and quality.”

For singular, we should use criterion:

• “The main criterion is price.”

But here’s something interesting: in everyday speech, many people (including native speakers) use criteria as if it were singular. It’s so common that you’ll see it in casual conversations, on TV, and even in writing sometimes.

Still, if you want to sound polished and correct, especially in formal situations, use criterion for singular and criteria for plural.

Quick Definitions to Keep Handy

• Criterion (singular): A single standard or rule for judging.
• Criteria (plural): Multiple standards or rules.

Think of it like this:

• One test = one criterion.
• Many tests = criteria.

Examples of “Criterion” and “Criteria” in Sentences

To really understand, let’s look at lots of examples.

Using “criterion”:

1. “The main criterion for winning the award is creativity.”
2. “Safety is the first criterion when designing a car.”
3. “Her only criterion for choosing a movie is whether it makes her laugh.”

Using “criteria”:

1. “The university has strict criteria for admission.”
2. “What criteria do you use when picking a restaurant?”
3. “We considered several criteria before hiring a new manager.”

Notice how criterion always refers to one standard, and criteria refers to more than one.

Common Mistakes People Make

Let’s look at the mistakes you might see (and how to fix them).

1. Mistake: “The main criteria is cost.”
   • ❌ Wrong because criteria is plural.
   • ✅ Correct: “The main criterion is cost.”
2. Mistake: “What is the criteria for success?”
   • ❌ Wrong if you are asking about just one.
   • ✅ Correct: “What is the criterion for success?”
3. Mistake: “The criterions are listed below.”
   • ❌ Wrong because the plural is not “criterions.”
   • ✅ Correct: “The criteria are listed below.”

By practicing with examples, these rules will start to feel natural.

Origin of the Word “Criterion”

If you like word history (etymology), here’s a fun fact.

The word criterion comes from the Greek word kritērion, which means a standard of judgment or a means of judging. It comes from the verb krinein, meaning to judge or decide.

This Greek origin explains why the plural follows a Greek pattern (criterion → criteria) instead of the regular English pattern.

So, next time you’re confused, just remember: it’s a Greek import!

Comparing “Criterion” with Similar Words

Sometimes it helps to compare with other tricky words:

• Phenomenon / Phenomena
  • One strange event = a phenomenon.
  • Many strange events = phenomena.
• Datum / Data
  • One piece of information = a datum.
  • Many pieces of information = data.
• Medium / Media
  • One channel (like TV or radio) = medium.
  • Many channels = media.

These pairs work like criterion / criteria. They follow older Greek or Latin rules instead of modern English ones.

Memory Trick to Remember

Here’s an easy way to remember:

• Criterion ends with on, so think “only one.”
• Criteria ends with a , and “a” can remind you of “a lot.”

This little trick can help you recall which is singular and which is plural.

Real Life Situations Where You Use These Words

You’ll often see “criterion” and “criteria” in academic, professional, or decision making settings. Let’s check a few examples:

• Education:
  • “One criterion for passing the exam is getting 60% or higher.”
  • “The grading criteria include clarity, accuracy, and creativity.”
• Job Hunting:
  • “The main criterion for this role is experience with customer service.”
  • “The hiring criteria cover skills, teamwork, and reliability.”
• Shopping:
  • “Her only criterion for buying shoes is comfort.”
  • “The criteria for choosing a laptop are price, weight, and battery life.”
• Competitions:
  • “One criterion for winning is originality.”
  • “The judges will use several criteria, including style and performance.”

These examples show that the words are practical and useful in many areas of life.

Fun Facts About “Criterion”

1. Formal vs. Casual English: In formal English, the singular/plural distinction is important. In casual speech, people often blur the line.
2. Spelling Tip: Be careful not to spell “criteria” as “criterias.” That’s incorrect.
3. Global Use: Because English is spoken worldwide, you might notice regional differences. For example, some regions treat “criteria” as singular more often than others.
4. Academic Favorite: Words like “criteria” appear frequently in academic writing, research papers, and official reports.

Quick Recap of Key Points

Let’s sum up what we’ve learned so far:

• Criterion = singular (one rule or standard).
• Criteria = plural (two or more rules).
• The plural is not “criterions.”
• The word comes from Greek, which explains its special plural form.
• Be careful not to confuse singular and plural in your sentences.

Conclusion

Language can feel tricky sometimes, especially when words don’t follow the usual rules. But once you understand the pattern, it becomes much easier.

Now you know that criterion is the singular form, and criteria is the plural. You also know how to use them correctly, avoid common mistakes, and even explain the difference to a friend.

So, next time someone asks, “What’s the plural of criterion?” you’ll be ready with a confident answer: criteria!

Keep practicing with real life examples, and soon it will feel natural. Remember one criterion, many criteria. Simple as that!