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Daylyn Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Our "criteria are" or "criteria is"?

This is my first post. What a great site, by the way! I'm proofreading something for my company and came across the following sentence, which stumped me:

"Our criteria for stock selection are (is?) based on fundamental analysis and we pay particular attention to the quality and strength of each investment."

I know "criteria" is plural, but I forget the rule when applying "are/is" afterward.

Thanks!
  

Top answer

Hi Daylyn, and welcome. Are. "Data" is starting to migrate to being used as a singular noun (more usage experts approve of it than used to, but the battle isn't nearly over), but I think that "criteria" is still seen only as plural.

— BarbaraPA

  • Hi Daylyn, and welcome.
  • Are.
  • "Data" is starting to migrate to being used as a singular noun (more usage experts approve of it than used to, but the battle isn't nearly over), but I think that "criteria" is still seen only as plural.
  • )
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7 Answers
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Hi Daylyn, and welcome.

Are. "Data" is starting to migrate to being used as a singular noun (more usage experts approve of it than used to, but the battle isn't nearly over), but I think that "criteria" is still seen only as plural.

(And edit in a comma after "analysis" since it's two seperate independent clauses.)
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Criteria is the plural of criterion, thus one should use are.
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criterion noun (plural criteria) as per cambridge defination

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/criterion
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I've only just come across this and while I agree that 'criteria' should be treated as a plural noun and 'are' or 'were'used with it, your reply contains two errors! Placing a comma after 'analysis' would be wrong in this case as there are two sentences being joined - compound sentences so no need for , after 'and'. Secondly, - oh dear - 'seperate'? tut tut.
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Actually, there should be a comma after "criteria," like that first person said. If you're joining 2 sentences, you should usually use a comma.
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Daylyncriteria
This one is pretty simple.

The criterion is ...
The criteria are ...
DaylynI know "criteria" is plural, but I forget the rule when applying "are/is" afterward.
Then you don't really have a question, do you? You're just confessing to everyone that you have a bad memory!
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The plural of forum is fora not forums

Hey everyone!

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