he criticized that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he criticized that" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly because "that" lacks a clear referent; it should specify what was criticized. Example: "He criticized the decision that was made during the meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But he recently undertook an acrimonious split with his longtime ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, after he criticized that party's rising leader, Narendra Modi.

The New York Times

He criticized that field studies and theory-driven research were severely underrepresented at SETAC conferences.

Environmental Sciences Europe

He criticized that story and character were "tossed aside" towards the "wearying" races.

Wikipedia

Trump, she said, agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin when he criticized that notion as insulting to the rest of the world.

Los Angeles Times

In another review, although Kimlinger commented that Sasuke was in need of development when he was escaping from Konoha, he criticized that it was not necessary to have long flashbacks about his life before his fight against Naruto.

Wikipedia

On the negative side, Pablo Villaça of Cinema em Cena said in his review that while he praised Van Damme's performance, he criticized that of Lundgren and described the film "dull in concept and execution".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Although he has criticized that plan, Mr. Sharon has said he accepts the idea of an eventual Palestinian state.

The New York Times

He never criticized that decision.

HuffPost

In the dreary campaign that followed, he was so mercilessly criticized that, as he said, he scarcely knew whether he was running for the presidency or the penitentiary.

Britannica

When he criticizes that the top 0.1% of US society have almost as much wealth as the bottom 90%, he deplores the morality of that situation rather than of the 0.1%.

Huffington Post

Some have criticized that approach as elitist.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the pronoun 'that' has a clear and explicit referent in the preceding context. If the referent is ambiguous, replace 'that' with a more specific noun or noun phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "that" without a clear antecedent. Replace it with a specific noun or rephrase the sentence to eliminate ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "He criticized that," say "He criticized the policy" or "He criticized the aforementioned statement."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he criticized that" functions as a statement of disapproval or disagreement. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not considered correct due to the vague pronoun reference of "that".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "he criticized that" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI suggests that it's generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the lack of a clear referent for "that". For clearer and more effective communication, it is best to replace "that" with a specific noun or noun phrase. Alternatives like "he criticized it", "he criticized the decision", or "he disapproved of that" are recommended to avoid ambiguity and improve grammatical correctness. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Science and Wiki.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he criticized it

Replaces 'that' with the pronoun 'it' assuming the context makes the referent clear.

he criticized the decision

Substitutes 'that' with a specific noun phrase, providing a clear object of criticism.

he disapproved of that

Uses 'disapproved of' to convey criticism, with 'that' referring to a previously mentioned idea or action.

he objected to that

Employs 'objected to' to express disagreement or opposition.

he expressed reservations about that

Indicates a more nuanced form of criticism, suggesting doubts or concerns.

he found fault with that

Highlights the act of identifying specific flaws or weaknesses.

he spoke out against that

Suggests a public or vocal expression of criticism.

he condemned that

Indicates a strong and formal expression of disapproval.

he trashed that

An informal way of saying he heavily criticized the matter.

he panned that

Conveys the act of strongly criticizing, especially in reviews.

FAQs

What's wrong with saying "he criticized that"?

The phrase "he criticized that" is often considered grammatically incorrect because the word "that" lacks a clear referent. It's better to specify what was criticized.

How can I make "he criticized that" grammatically correct?

To correct "he criticized that", replace "that" with a specific noun or noun phrase. For example, say "He criticized "he criticized the decision"" or "He criticized "he criticized the policy"".

What are some alternatives to "he criticized that"?

Instead of "he criticized that", you can use phrases like "he criticized it" (if the referent is clear), "he disapproved of that", or "he objected to that".

Is it ever acceptable to use "he criticized that"?

While some sources may contain the phrase "he criticized that", it is generally better to use more specific language to avoid ambiguity. Using a clear referent makes your writing more precise and easier to understand.