"The first criterion is linguistic..."

Linguistic what?

I guess the reason why it's underlined in green by Word is because linguistic is an adjective that refers to something else.

Something that would be grammatically correct would be "linguistic achievement" because it actually refers to something.

EDIT: am I making sense? I feel like I'm not making sense.

arabajyo said:

but a sentence like "the second car is ugly" is (at least to me) pretty obviously grammatically correct. isn't "the first criterion is linguistic" analogous to "the second car is ugly?"

Click to expand...

Hmm, I see your point, but I don't think you mean to describe the criterion itself as linguistic. I think that you're describing a criterion that involves some sort of linguistic element.

If you think about your own example, you might think that a car is ugly because a car can have aesthetic qualities, but a criterion cannot have human qualities. Unless you are trying to personify the criterion by calling it "linguistic" and therefore capable of language, I would say it is likely grammatically incorrect.

arabajyo said:

Is that grammatically correct? Word greened it for some reason, citing "adjective use."

Click to expand...

It's an adjective; since it's referencing 'criterion', it should be correct... Not sure what program you're using, but if it's the MS Word grammar function I'd recommend switching it off

Wilde_at_heart said:

It's an adjective; since it's referencing 'criterion', it should be correct... Not sure what program you're using, but if it's the MS Word grammar function I'd recommend switching it off

Click to expand...

Ah, yes, now that I think about it, the word "linguistic" as an adjective for "criterion" functions here more like a title than an actual descriptor of the noun. So it makes sense in its context.

Turn off Word's grammar check. It'll drive you crazy and it's wrong more often than not.

arabajyo said:

The first criterion is linguistic and covers the use of words and phrases, while the second criterion is non-linguistic and relies on the type of diction and pronunciation that is used.

Click to expand...

The grammar is fine, but your sentence doesn't make sense to me. If the second criterion involves diction and pronunciation it's clearly also linguistic. What is it that you mean to say?