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 scholarship include academic achievement and community involvement. [criteria: noun]
Example
We need to establish clear criteria for evaluating the success of the project. [criteria: plural noun]
yardstick
Example
The company uses customer satisfaction as a yardstick for measuring success. [yardstick: noun]
Example
We need to find a yardstick to measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaign. [yardstick: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Criteria is more commonly used than yardstick in academic and professional contexts, while yardstick is more commonly used in casual conversation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between criteria and yardstick?
Criteria is generally considered more formal than yardstick, which is often used in informal settings.
