Our "criteria are" or "criteria is"?

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Daylyn  #238299  Tue, 20 Jun 06 09:55 PM

This is my first post. What a great site, by the way! I'm proofreading something for my company and came across the following sentence, which stumped me:

"Our criteria for stock selection are (is?) based on fundamental analysis and we pay particular attention to the quality and strength of each investment."

I know "criteria" is plural, but I forget the rule when applying "are/is" afterward.

Thanks!

  
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Grammar Geek  #238307  Tue, 20 Jun 06 10:44 PM

Hi Daylyn, and welcome.

Are. "Data" is starting to migrate to being used as a singular noun (more usage experts approve of it than used to, but the battle isn't nearly over), but I think that "criteria" is still seen only as plural.

(And edit in a comma after "analysis" since it's two seperate independent clauses.)

  
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Anonymous  #238342  Wed, 21 Jun 06 12:18 AM
Criteria is the plural of criterion, thus one should use are.
  
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