rubric

[ roo-brik ]

noun

1. a title, heading, direction, or the like, in a manuscript, book, statute, etc., written or printed in red or otherwise distinguished from the rest of the text.
2. a direction for the conduct of divine service or the administration of the sacraments, inserted in liturgical books.
3. any established mode of conduct or procedure; protocol.
4. an explanatory comment; gloss.
5. a class or category
6. Archaic. red ocher.

adjective

1. written, inscribed in, or marked with or as with red; rubrical.
2. Archaic. red; ruddy.

rubric

/ ˈruːbrɪk /

noun

1. a title, heading, or initial letter in a book, manuscript, or section of a legal code, esp one printed or painted in red ink or in some similarly distinguishing manner
2. a set of rules of conduct or procedure
3. a set of directions for the conduct of Christian church services, often printed in red in a prayer book or missal
4. instructions to a candidate at the head of the examination paper
5. an obsolete name for red ochre

adjective

1. written, printed, or marked in red

Derived Forms

• ˈrubrical, adjective
• ˈrubrically, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubric¹

1325–75; < Latin rūbrīca red ocher (derivative of ruber red ¹ ); replacing Middle English rubriche, rubrike (noun) < Old French

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubric¹

C15 rubrike red ochre, red lettering, from Latin rubrīca ( terra ) red (earth), ruddle, from ruber red

Example Sentences

The evaluator's rubric has six criteria to consider when determining the scores of the interview: intimacy, social desirability, general job abilities, decisiveness, cooperativeness and overall hireability.

From Science Daily

The Kobe University finding challenges conventional approaches to test preparation and scoring rubrics.

From Science Daily

However, since the introduction of the 2020 law, Hong Kong authorities have severely limited free speech and assembly under the rubric of maintaining national security.

From Seattle Times

He has always been a consummate chameleon performer, playing to different audiences with different characters, but uniting them all under the rubric of victimization.

From Salon

Schools apply by submitting live recordings of three transcribed Ellington songs, and are judged at the New York competition on a rubric of musicianship, swing and soloing.

From Seattle Times

More About Rubric

What does rubric mean?

Rubric commonly refers to a set of guidelines or a protocol for how something will or should be done, like how an assignment will be graded.

Rubric is also commonly used to mean a class or category. Its original meaning, which is still used, refers to text printed in red or set apart in some other way, such as a heading in a manuscript. Less commonly, rubric can be used as an adjective meaning written or marked in red.

Example: Please check the rubric when writing your papers so you know exactly what I’m looking for.

Where does rubric come from?

The first records of rubric come from before the 1400s. It traces back to the Latin rūbrīca, which refers to a type of red pigment and derives from ruber, meaning “red.” (This is also the basis for the word ruby.)

In old manuscripts, some of the text was given additional emphasis. While most of the text was black, certain parts were sometimes accented with red, such as headings or additional comments. These parts came to be known as rubrics. (When the first letter of the text in a manuscript is enlarged and decorated, this is often called a historiated initial. When it is colored red, it is said to be rubricated.)

Some of these manuscripts were Christian texts. In this context, rubric came to refer to a direction for how to conduct certain ceremonies. Eventually, rubric began to be used more generally to mean “an explanatory comment” or “an instruction,” such as on an examination. Today, perhaps the most popular use of rubric is in the context of education to refer to a chart that breaks down how an assignment will be graded or some other aspect of a class.

It is also commonly used to mean “class” or “category,” as in Not every example will fit neatly into a rubric.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to rubric?

• rubrical (adjective)
• rubrically (adverb)

What are some synonyms for rubric?

• protocol
• class
• category
• gloss

What are some words that share a root or word element with rubric? 

 

• ruby
• rubricated

What are some words that often get used in discussing rubric?

• red
• manuscript
• procedure
• chart
• instruction
• comment
• mode
• practice
• prescript
• course
• formula

How is rubric used in real life?

Rubrics are commonly used by teachers in the form of charts. But the word has many meanings that can be used in many different contexts.

me: look at my Rubric Cube

you: you mean Rubik’s Cube

me: [puts a checkmark in the “does not do what I ask” box on my Rubric Cube]

— Nathan W. Pyle (@nathanwpyle) December 20, 2019

Authenticity is the chief currency for being a #HipHopEd(ucator) There is no rubric for authenticity but youth can feel a fraud from a block away

— Christopher Emdin (@chrisemdin) January 30, 2019

This week's manuscript: if you weren't sure what a rubric is, now you know. http://t.co/dHXt5CTv26 #bookhistory pic.twitter.com/WRkBccLjO1

— Special Collections, Archives & Digital Services (@MUSpecColl) August 15, 2015

 

 

Try using rubric!

Is rubric used correctly in the following sentence?

The rubric for this assignment made it very clear that you were supposed to work in pairs.