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Principles vs Criteria - What's the difference?

principles | criteria |

As nouns the difference between principles and criteria

is that principles is while criteria is .

principles

English

Noun

(head) (p)
  • Synonyms

    * moral code

    criteria

    English

    Noun

    (head)
  • * (seeCites)
  • (nonstandard, proscribed) A single criterion.
  • * (seeCites)
  • Usage notes

    * The word criteria'' is often treated as singular or even uncountable, but these uses are usually still considered incorrect; the standard singular form is ''criterion''. The standard and most common plural form is ''criteria''; less common is ''criterions''. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criterion Merriam-Webster]: "The plural ''criteria'' has been used as a singular for over half a century . Many of our examples, like the two foregoing, are taken from speech. But singular ''criteria'' is not uncommon in edited prose, and its use both in speech and writing seems to be increasing. Only time will tell whether it will reach the unquestioned acceptability of ''agenda''."[http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/criterion American Heritage: "Like the analogous etymological plurals ''agenda'' and ''data'', ''criteria is widely used as a singular form. Unlike them, however, it is not yet acceptable in that use."

    Derived terms

    * criterial

    References

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