a bad criterion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a bad criterion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a standard or principle that is ineffective or inappropriate for making a judgment or decision. Example: "Using personal opinions as a basis for hiring decisions is a bad criterion for selecting the best candidates."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Critical Care

Bioinformatics

SEP

F1000Research

Joe Celko's SQL Programming Style

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In Figure 3, we show a few selected applied peptide flips after the final refinement by REFMAC: albeit the density alone would be a bad criterion for these cases (especially when compared with the obvious example showcased in Fig. 1A), considering the improvement in density fit combined with the Ramachandran plot quality (Kleywegt and Jones, 1998), the choice in the optimized models appears best.

Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The presence of MA during the evolution of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a bad prognosis criterion.

Critical Care

Thus, a simple order-theoretic criterion is a bad guide to whether cosmological models are consistent with the doctrine of creation ex nihilo.

SEP

She was alert but in a bad general condition, fulfilling all criteria of a septic shock.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Penalising by too rigid evaluation criteria would be a bad thing as it is for evaluators to understand a field and adapt, not to try and change the field to suit their criteria.

F1000Research

On these criteria, I am afraid to say, Holloway is a bad historian.

The Guardian - Books

A bad, bad owner.

The New York Times

That's a bad, bad, bad unit.

The New York Times

"A bad, bad road".

The New York Times

You are a bad, bad girl.

The New Yorker

He's a bad bad man.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating options, ensure that the "criterion" used is directly relevant to the decision and accurately reflects the desired outcome. Avoid using criteria that are easily manipulated or lead to unintended consequences.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because a "criterion" is associated with a particular outcome, it directly causes that outcome. Always investigate potential confounding factors and ensure a genuine causal link exists before relying on the criterion for decision-making.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bad criterion" functions as a noun phrase, where 'bad' modifies 'criterion'. It typically serves to describe a standard, rule, or principle used for evaluation that is deemed ineffective or inappropriate. Ludwig confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a bad criterion" describes a standard or principle used for evaluation that is flawed or inappropriate. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and, while not overly common, appears in diverse fields like science, news, and media. Its usage signals disapproval of a particular measure due to its irrelevance or potential for misleading results. Alternatives such as "an inadequate standard" or "a poor measure" can be employed to convey a similar meaning. When using this phrase, ensure that you avoid confusing correlation with causation and select criteria that accurately reflect desired outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an inadequate standard

Replaces "criterion" with "standard", suggesting a lack of sufficiency or acceptability.

a poor measure

Substitutes "criterion" with "measure", focusing on the quality of the assessment method.

a flawed benchmark

Uses "benchmark" instead of "criterion", highlighting the presence of defects or imperfections.

an inappropriate metric

Replaces "criterion" with "metric", indicating a lack of suitability for the given context.

an unreliable indicator

Substitutes "criterion" with "indicator", focusing on the lack of dependability or trustworthiness.

a deceptive yardstick

Uses "yardstick" as a metaphor for measurement, adding a sense of misleading quality.

a fallacious principle

Replaces "criterion" with "principle", emphasizing the incorrect or misleading nature of the guiding belief.

a misleading gauge

Substitutes "criterion" with "gauge", suggesting the assessment is inaccurate or deceptive.

an unsound basis

Replaces "criterion" with "basis", highlighting the lack of a solid or reasonable foundation.

a weak justification

Replaces "criterion" with "justification", focusing on the inadequacy of the reason or evidence provided.

FAQs

What does "a bad criterion" mean?

The phrase "a bad criterion" refers to a standard, rule, or test for judgment or decision-making that is ineffective, inappropriate, or leads to undesirable outcomes.

How can I use "a bad criterion" in a sentence?

You might say, "Using subjective feelings as the primary measure of success is "a bad criterion" for evaluating employee performance."

What are some alternatives to saying "a bad criterion"?

You can use alternatives like "an inadequate standard", "a poor measure", or "a flawed benchmark".

What makes a criterion "bad"?

A criterion can be considered "bad" if it's irrelevant, subjective, easily manipulated, or consistently leads to inaccurate or unfair judgments. An effective criterion should be objective, relevant, and reliable.