a passing standard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a passing standard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a level of quality or performance that is just sufficient to meet minimum requirements, often in an evaluative context. Example: "The project received a passing standard, but there is still room for improvement to achieve excellence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What appears to be progress is nothing more than a passing standard that is lowered each time the test is offered.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Following additional analysis of the field test, a recommended passing standard that uses a professionally acceptable and credible standard-setting approach will be provided as a guide for states.

Huffington Post

We also show that an increase in the passing standard had a marked short-run impact on the number of school dropouts in Texas who attempted the GED exams, but that the number of test-takers recovered over several years.

Economics of Education Review

Indel and single nucleotide variants within the candidate regions were called in the VCF format using the UnifiedGenotyper function of Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK), identifying a total of 672 variants passing standard GATK filters.

Human Molecular Genetics

The passing standard for the assessment was based on a "number of cases to pass" methodology.

British Medical Journal

Sequences passing standard Illumina GA pipeline filters were retained.

DNA Research

27 Ultimately the validity of a pass standard is an empirical matter to be assessed by its relationship to standards set by other methods for other parallel assessments.

British Medical Journal

More specifically, when a pass standard is established for the FSEP assessment, our interest will be in minimising SEM for practitioners scoring near pre-determined cut-scores.

BMC Medical Education

As an example, Figure 1 shows a genotype cluster plot for a SNP (called SNP1) that passed standard QC before inspection of cluster plots, but gave an unusually large test statistic for a two-locus test of association.

Genetic Epidemiology

Establishing a final pass standard will be undertaken using a documented pass standard methodology as a future exercise.

BMC Medical Education

"They have set up standards for art, but they take a pass on standards for decency and standards for morality," Mr. Mariaschin said on Monday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a passing standard", ensure that the context clearly defines what constitutes 'passing' and what the implications are for meeting or failing to meet that standard.

Common error

Avoid equating "a passing standard" with high performance. The phrase indicates the minimum acceptable level, not exceptional quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a passing standard" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "standard", indicating a minimum level of acceptability or achievement. It commonly appears in evaluative contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Wiki

3%

Science & Research

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a passing standard" denotes the minimum level of acceptability. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and sees frequent use. Its application spans diverse fields, including science, news, and business, though it maintains a formal or neutral register. When using this phrase, remember that it signifies meeting the minimum requirement, not necessarily exceeding expectations. Consider alternatives like "an acceptable standard" or "a minimum standard" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an acceptable standard

Replaces "passing" with "acceptable", emphasizing that the standard is merely adequate.

a minimum standard

Focuses on the lower limit of what is considered satisfactory, rather than the act of passing.

a satisfactory level

Shifts from a standard to a level, implying a certain degree of fulfillment.

an adequate criterion

Substitutes "standard" with "criterion", highlighting a rule or principle used for judgment.

a threshold requirement

Emphasizes the minimum qualification needed to proceed further.

a baseline measure

Highlights a fundamental metric used as a reference point.

a qualifying benchmark

Implies a standard that must be met to be considered eligible.

a nominal level

Indicates a standard that is such in name only.

a sufficient grade

Specifically relates to academic performance, where a passing grade is achieved.

a marginal result

Suggests the result barely meets the acceptable requirements.

FAQs

How can I use "a passing standard" in a sentence?

You can use "a passing standard" to describe a level of achievement that is just sufficient to meet minimum requirements. For example, "The student achieved "a passing standard" on the exam, but needs to improve to excel."

What can I say instead of "a passing standard"?

You can use alternatives like "an acceptable standard", "a minimum standard", or "a satisfactory level" depending on the context.

Is it better to exceed "a passing standard" or just meet it?

While meeting "a passing standard" is acceptable, exceeding it typically indicates superior performance and greater competence.

What does it mean if something only meets "a passing standard"?

It means that it barely meets the minimum requirements or expectations. Further improvement or effort may be needed to achieve a higher level of quality or performance.