What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
judge
Example
The judge sentenced the defendant to ten years in prison. [judge: noun]
Example
I can't judge whether or not this is a good idea without more information. [judge: verb]
Example
She has a good eye for design and can judge which colors go well together. [judge: verb]
criticize
Example
He criticized the movie for its poor acting and predictable plot. [criticize: verb]
Example
I don't appreciate being criticized for my work without constructive feedback. [criticized: past tense]
Example
The professor encouraged us to criticize the research paper to improve its quality. [criticize: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Critique is more commonly used than judge in everyday language. Critique is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while judge is less common and often associated with legal or official contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between judge and criticize?
While judge is typically associated with a formal and official tone, criticize is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.