upon criteria

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon criteria" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when discussing decisions or actions that are based on specific standards or principles, but "based on criteria" is more standard. Example: "The selection process will be conducted upon criteria established by the committee."

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Promotion between job grades depends upon criteria over which managerial discretion has stronger incentive effects.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Numerous domain specific rules or heuristics may be utilized to discover commonality among entities based upon criteria such as distance metrics or shared feature counts.

Security Informatics

The final agreed upon criteria for consideration of signs and symptoms as major included: 1. participant endorsement of at least 15% or for those between 10 and 14%, discussed and included if considered important conceptually;   2.

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

This review highlights both well-established and recently reported systemic, topical, intraocular, and vaccine-associated causes of drug-induced uveitis, and assigns a quantitative score to each medication based upon criteria originally described by Naranjo and associates.

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

Before this approach can be endorsed, we need evidence from well-designed prospective randomized trials using widely agreed upon criteria and including large numbers of patients at multiple centers.

Radiología

Using this system, proposed designs of products or services can be automatically evaluated for each individual in the database, based upon criteria set by the designer (e.g. access, reach, vision, mobility and strength).

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

"She fulfilled all of the internationally agreed-upon criteria, and there wasn't anything that she did that would lead anybody to say she wasn't vegetative," he told me.

The New Yorker

So far, all three main American presidential candidates have said they will continue the Bush administration's ban on discussions with Hamas until it meets previously agreed-upon criteria: recognition of the right of Israel to exist, acceptance of previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements and an end to violence.

The New York Times

While there are no agreed-upon criteria for inclusion, membership in this select group customarily requires conspicuous contributions at one or both of the foundings of the United States: during the American Revolution, when independence was won, or during the Constitutional Convention, when nationhood was achieved.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Time has come for initiatives to conduct well designed trials based on agreed-upon criteria to settle this debate.

International Journal of Cardiology

That is because there are no universally agreed-upon criteria among Classical Indian philosophers (not even among fellow-Buddhists) as to what counts as evidence for the existence of external things.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using "based on criteria" as it's generally more common and widely accepted in contemporary English writing.

Common error

Avoid overusing "upon" in formal writing. While correct, it can sound dated. Opt for more common alternatives like "on" or "based on" to maintain a modern tone and improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon criteria" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the basis or condition for an action, decision, or evaluation. As Ludwig notes, this usage means that a decision, action, or judgement relies on a specific set of standards.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "upon criteria" is a grammatically acceptable but somewhat uncommon way to indicate that a decision or action is based on specific standards. While correct, it's often perceived as more formal and less contemporary than alternatives such as "based on criteria". Ludwig reports that the phrase is often found in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts. Given its slightly elevated formality, it's advisable to consider the context and audience when choosing between "upon criteria" and its more common alternatives. As Ludwig suggests, understanding these nuances can help ensure clarity and maintain a modern tone in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

based on criteria

Replaces "upon" with the more common preposition "based on", resulting in a more standard phrasing.

according to criteria

Substitutes "upon" with "according to", focusing on adherence to a specific set of guidelines.

by virtue of criteria

Replaces "upon" with "by virtue of", emphasizing that the criteria provide the authority or justification.

dependent on criteria

Focuses on the reliance on specific factors for a particular outcome.

subject to criteria

Emphasizes that the action or decision is conditional and contingent on fulfilling certain requirements.

contingent on criteria

Highlights the conditional nature, emphasizing that something will only happen if the criteria are met.

conditional on criteria

Stresses the dependence of the outcome on meeting certain conditions.

as per criteria

More formal and business-oriented; indicates that something is done in accordance with the criteria.

in light of criteria

Emphasizes that decisions are made considering the criteria, using them for guidance.

predicated on criteria

Highlights that something is founded or based on a specific set of conditions.

FAQs

What's a more common alternative to "upon criteria"?

A more common and contemporary alternative is "based on criteria". It conveys the same meaning but is more frequently used in modern English.

How can I use "upon criteria" in a sentence?

You can use "upon criteria" to indicate that a decision or judgment is based on specific standards. For example: "The selection process is determined upon criteria set by the board".

Is "upon criteria" formal or informal?

The phrase "upon criteria" can be perceived as slightly more formal than alternatives like "based on criteria". Consider your audience and the context of your writing when choosing between these options.

What's the difference between "upon criteria" and "according to criteria"?

"Upon criteria" suggests a basis or foundation, while "according to criteria" emphasizes adherence to a specific set of guidelines. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.