Some academic nouns keep a Greek or Latin plural: criterion → criteria, phenomenon → phenomena, analysis → analyses.
Greek and Latin plurals
Not "Each candidate must meet specific criterias." — say "Each candidate must meet specific criteria.". Criteria is already plural. Do not add -s.
Try it: Camila: How did you choose the six streets for the study? Hiroshi: They all met the same three ___. Choose the word for the blank. (criteria / criterias / criterion) Answer: criteria — After three, use the plural criteria, while "criterias" adds -s to a word that is already plural.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
criteria
/kraɪˈtɪriə/
Each applicant must meet all four criteria before the panel reviews the file.
phenomena
/fəˈnɑmənə/
The study compares two phenomena that rarely appear together.
analyses
/əˈnæləˌsiz/
The three separate analyses all pointed to the same conclusion.
Nouns for ideas
Significance means importance, an implication is a consequence, and a perspective is a point of view.
Not "We need to look at this from several prospects." — say "We need to look at this from several perspectives.". A perspective is a viewpoint. A prospect is a future possibility.
Try it: Hiroshi: What did the council say about our corridor findings? Camila: That they have serious ___ for new housing. Choose the word for the blank. (implications / significances / perspectives) Answer: implications — Consequences that follow from findings are implications, while "perspectives" are viewpoints.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
significance
/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
The authors overstate the significance of a fairly small change.
implication
/ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃən/
Raising the fee has implications for lower-income students.
perspective
/pərˈspɛktɪv/
Reading the letters gives us a perspective the official records leave out.
How a study is built
A study's methodology is what it does, its framework is the ideas it reasons with, and an assumption is what it accepts untested.
Not "Our framework was to interview 40 people and count their answers." — say "Our methodology was to interview 40 people and count their answers.". Steps someone carried out are the methodology. The framework is the ideas.
Try it: Camila: Where do your ideas about green corridors come from? Hiroshi: I borrowed a ___ from urban design. Choose the word for the blank. (framework / methodology / correlation) Answer: framework — A borrowed set of ideas is a framework, while a "methodology" is the steps a study takes.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
methodology
/ˌmɛθəˈdɑlədʒi/
The paper devotes six pages to its methodology before reporting any results.
framework
/ˈfreɪmwɜrk/
She borrows a theoretical framework from economics to explain the voting data.
assumption
/əˈsʌmpʃən/
The model rests on the assumption that prices adjust immediately.
What the study found
A correlation is a measured link between two things that change together, and validity is whether a test measures what it claims.
Not "The study found a strong negative comparison between noise and sleep." — say "The study found a strong negative correlation between noise and sleep.". A correlation can be strong or weak, positive or negative.
Try it: Hiroshi: The sensor by Senville Park was recording noise, not air quality. Camila: Then I doubt the ___ of those air-quality results. Choose the word for the blank. (validity / correlation / phenomena) Answer: validity — Whether results measure what they claim is their validity.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
correlation
/ˌkɔrəˈleɪʃən/
There is a strong negative correlation between screen time and hours slept.
validity
/vəˈlɪdəti/
Reviewers questioned the validity of a test that measured confidence rather than skill.
What are the common mistakes?
Incorrect
Correct
Why
Each candidate must meet specific criterias.
Each candidate must meet specific criteria.
Criteria is already plural. Do not add -s.
We need to look at this from several prospects.
We need to look at this from several perspectives.
A perspective is a viewpoint. A prospect is a future possibility.
Our framework was to interview 40 people and count their answers.
Our methodology was to interview 40 people and count their answers.
Steps someone carried out are the methodology. The framework is the ideas.
The study found a strong negative comparison between noise and sleep.
The study found a strong negative correlation between noise and sleep.
A correlation can be strong or weak, positive or negative.