What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
criteria
Example
The criteria for the job position included a minimum of five years of experience. [criteria: noun]
Example
The team used specific criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the new marketing strategy. [criteria: plural noun]
benchmark
Example
The company set a benchmark for customer satisfaction at 95%. [benchmark: noun]
Example
The team used the industry's best practices as a benchmark for their own performance. [benchmark: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Criteria is more commonly used than benchmark in everyday language. Criteria is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while benchmark is more specific and often used in professional or technical settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between criteria and benchmark?
While criteria can be used in both formal and informal contexts, benchmark is more commonly used in professional or technical settings and may be considered more formal.
