by what standard

USAGE SUMMARY

"by what standard" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to ask what criteria someone is using to form an opinion or reach a conclusion. For example: "By what standard do you claim that this project is a failure?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

By what standard?

The Economist

But small by what standard?

The Economist

By what standard then shall we rightly judge these things?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

If not, by what standard are they to judge it?

The New York Times

But by what standard is he thus qualified?

The New York Times

By what standard is Congo ranked far ahead of Uganda?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

By what standards?

University of California, Berkeley

But there is a larger question: by what standards does one judge any play?

The Guardian

Held to this light, by what standards did Europol crack what it called the "biggest" pedophile network?

The New York Times

Although the expectations may be demanding, employees should know up front by what standards they will be judged and the penalties for failure.

Harvard Business Review

And if I am to be judged, by what standards?

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "by what standard", ensure the context clearly defines what is being evaluated and why a standard is necessary. This avoids ambiguity and clarifies the purpose of the question.

Common error

Avoid using "by what standard" when seeking general opinions. This phrase is best suited for situations requiring specific, measurable criteria, not subjective feelings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by what standard" functions as an interrogative adverbial phrase used to question the basis or criteria upon which a judgment, assessment, or evaluation is made. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is often used in academic and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by what standard" is a grammatically sound and frequently used interrogative phrase employed to question the criteria behind an evaluation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most commonly found in news, academic and scientific contexts, indicating a formal or neutral register. While it's important to use this phrase when specific criteria are needed rather than seeking a subjective opinion. Alternatives include "on what basis" and "according to what criteria". Ultimately, understanding when and how to use "by what standard" effectively enhances clarity and precision in analytical discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on what basis

Changes the structure to use "basis" instead of "standard", focusing on the foundation for judgment.

according to what criteria

Replaces "standard" with "criteria", emphasizing specific factors used for evaluation.

by what measure

Substitutes "standard" with "measure", highlighting the metric used for assessment.

using what benchmark

Employs "benchmark" instead of "standard", focusing on a reference point for comparison.

by which metric

Uses "metric" to specify a quantifiable measure for evaluation.

upon what principle

Shifts the focus to the fundamental rule or belief guiding the judgment.

by what guidelines

Replaces "standard" with "guidelines", focusing on established rules for evaluation.

on what authority

Emphasizes the source or justification for the assessment.

by what rationale

Focuses on the reasoning or justification behind the judgment.

under what conditions

Shifts the focus to the circumstances that dictate the judgment.

FAQs

How can I use "by what standard" in a sentence?

Use "by what standard" to inquire about the specific criteria or benchmark used to make a judgment or assessment. For example, "By what standard are we measuring the success of this project?"

What are some alternatives to using "by what standard"?

Alternatives include "on what basis", "according to what criteria", or "by what measure", which all serve to question the rationale behind an evaluation.

Is it appropriate to use "by what standard" in informal conversation?

While grammatically correct, "by what standard" is more formal and analytical. In informal settings, simpler phrases like "what are you basing that on?" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "by what standard" and "by what standards"?

"By what standard" refers to a single, specific criterion. "By what standards" implies multiple criteria are being considered in the evaluation.