Spellbinding by any criterion

Another one of those inexplicable and kinda irritating Radio National presenter things is the use of the word 'criteria' as a singular noun. What is most inexplicable is how anyone can get through primary school or the early years of high school and not know the word 'criterion' and its plural. I heard a presenter get it wrong a couple of days ago, and Fran Kelly got it wrong this morning on the Breakfast cum Sports Show: "what is the criteria?" It is well beyond time for Auntie to have English training sessions for presenters and writers, or -- better still -- not to employ people who can't use the language well.

A bouquet, however, to that program for an excellent interview with two men who were involved with the execution of the last person to be hanged in Australia, Ronald Ryan. It was spellbinding by any criterion. A bouquet, too, to Auntie for its coverage of the Van Nguyen execution story over the past week or two. I am grateful that they have not let the matter 'drop' as this boy will drop in Singapore next Friday.

Tagged: scose, abc, australia, australian, english, language, radio, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, journalism, radio+national