ADJ

high
low, poor
minimum
acceptable, adequate, decent, proper, reasonable
We must ensure proper standards of care for the elderly
improved, rising
clear
objective
Judged by any objective standards, the campaign was a disaster
official, required
conventional, usual
consistent, uniform, universal
exacting, rigorous, strict, stringent
professional
The work has been done to a professional standard
international, national
quality
We have to try and achieve the quality standards set by the project
qualifying
The Olympic qualifying standard has been set at 64.50m
living
The region enjoys the highest living standards in Europe
accounting, advertising, safety, trading, etc.
academic, educational, environmental, health, intellectual, technical, etc.

VERB + STANDARD

have
The agency has very high standards
boast, enjoy
define, establish, set
achieve, meet, reach
The factory is struggling to meet national environmental standards. She has reached an acceptable standard of English
fall short of
The hotel service fell short of the usual standard
apply, enforce, provide
It's impossible to apply the same academic standards across the country
judge sb/sth by
improve, raise
lower
maintain, sustain

PREP

above/below (the) ~
Your work is below standard
by … standards
By modern standards, he isn't a particularly fast runner
to a … ~
The building work had not been completed to a satisfactory standard
up to ~
We need to bring our computer system up to standard
~ in
standards in safety

PHRASES

by any standard
She's a great violinist by any standard
a drop/fall in the standard, an increase/a rise in the standard
There has been an increase in the standard of service provided
a standard of living
the fall in their standard of living caused by redundancy

ADJ

declining, falling
My grandparents are always complaining about falling moral standards
double
the double standard frequently encountered in nineteenth-century attitudes to sex
ethical, moral

VERB + STANDARD

prescribe
keep up, maintain
improve, raise

STANDARD + VERB

drop, fall

PHRASES

standards of behaviour/conduct