criticize against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "criticize against" is not correct and not usable in written English. You should use "criticize" without "against." An example would be: "She criticized the policy for its lack of clarity." Alternative expressions include "criticize," "oppose," and "denounce."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

LED bulbs typically provide a clean, bright light that is sometimes criticized against the warm glow of incandescents.

WikiHow

He opposed American military involvement in Vietnam as early as 1963, and in the early 1960's he began to criticize discrimination against homosexuals.

The New York Times

Though they generally condemn attacks on Israeli civilians inside Israel, Mr. Arafat and other Palestinian leaders seldom criticize violence against Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank and Gaza, which Israel has occupied since 1967.

The New York Times

On Tuesday, it said it would buy 25 Airbus jets to operate on the airline, a move that Mesa Air, which has made an unsolicited takeover bid for Atlantic Coast Airlines, criticized as against the best interests of Atlantic Coast's shareholders.

The New York Times

Hussain, who did not criticize the charges against Arian, was on a civil liberties panel with Arian's daughter when he made the comment.

The Washington Post

Even as the White House was trying to react to the latest flare-up of violence in Egypt on Wednesday — Mr. Gibbs pointedly criticized attacks against the media in Egypt and against "peaceful demonstrators" — officials at the Pentagon, the State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency and the White House were running various scenarios across the region in an effort to keep up with events.

The New York Times

Denis Halliday criticizes sanctions against Iraq in an afternoon talk Sept. 24 in 153 Uris Hall.

Cornell University

Even so, it has not publicly criticized raids against small Russian advocacy groups.

The New York Times

Mr. Arafat today harshly criticized violence against Israeli civilians within the 1967 borders.

The New York Times

PAGE A21 TERRORISTS EXPLOIT WEAKNESS -- Investigators had criticized precautions against hijacking.

The New York Times

General Gallardo was arrested in November 1993 on charges of slandering the armed forces by criticizing abuses against civilians.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "criticize" directly followed by the object of criticism. The preposition "against" is redundant and grammatically incorrect in this context. For example, say "They criticized the decision" instead of "They criticize against the decision".

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary prepositions like "against" after the verb "criticize". This creates an awkward and incorrect phrasing. Stick to the standard form: "criticize something".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "criticize against" is grammatically incorrect and thus has no proper grammatical function. The verb "criticize" typically functions as a transitive verb, directly taking the object of criticism without the need for the preposition "against". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "criticize against" is considered grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. According to Ludwig AI, it is not usable in written English. The correct form is simply "criticize", followed by the object of criticism. Using the incorrect phrase can lead to confusion and negatively impact the clarity of your writing. Alternatives such as "condemn", "denounce", or "disapprove of" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context. Always strive for grammatical accuracy to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

criticize

Removes the unnecessary preposition "against", resulting in a grammatically correct and more direct expression of disapproval.

express criticism of

Replaces the single verb with a phrase that explicitly mentions "criticism", adding clarity and formality.

voice disapproval of

Emphasizes the act of expressing negative feelings or opinions about something.

denounce

Suggests a strong and public condemnation of something, often with moral implications.

condemn

Similar to "denounce", but can also imply a legal or formal judgment against something.

object to

Indicates opposition or disagreement with something, often in a formal or procedural context.

argue against

Focuses on presenting reasons or evidence to counter a particular idea or action.

disapprove of

Conveys a personal feeling of negativity towards something, often based on subjective values or preferences.

find fault with

Highlights the act of discovering and pointing out flaws or imperfections in something.

take exception to

Indicates a strong disagreement or offense taken at something, often implying a challenge or confrontation.

FAQs

How to properly use the word "criticize" in a sentence?

Use "criticize" followed directly by the object of criticism. For example, "The reviewer "criticized the movie" for its poor plot" is correct, while "criticize against the movie" is not.

Is it grammatically correct to say "criticize against"?

No, the phrase "criticize against" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is simply "criticize". The preposition "against" is unnecessary and creates an ungrammatical construction.

What are some alternatives to saying "criticize"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "condemn", "denounce", "disapprove of", or "object to".

What is the difference between "criticize" and "argue against"?

"Criticize" means to express disapproval of something, while "argue against" means to present reasons or evidence to oppose something. "Criticize" focuses on expressing a negative opinion, whereas "argue against" focuses on providing a logical counterpoint.