"Rule-of-thumb" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples

"Rule-of-thumb" Meaning

A practical guideline or principle based on general experience or useful knowledge: "In choosing a tree, there is no hard-and-fast 'rule-of-thumb', because the specifics of the site play a significant role."

"Rule-of-thumb" Examples

Rule-of-thumb Examples

Usage Example 1: Estimate and Efficiency

To fill a rectangular box with a specific volume of sand, we use the rule of thumb that is two-thirds the product of its length, width, and height. For example, if our box is to have a volume of two cubic meters, we should measure its dimensions to be approximately 1 meter in length, 0.7 meters in width, and 1.4 meters in height.

Usage Example 2: Optimal Health Standards

The American Heart Association recommends using the "rule of nines" for assessing burns. The rule of nines divides the body into sections with each section worth 9 points. The head and each arm is worth 9 points, the front and back of each leg is worth 18 points each, and the chest and abdomen, but not the arms, are worth 9 points. For instance, a burn on the front of the leg would be considered a "Part of 18" or 18/18. If the damage covers slightly over half of one of these sections, you would need it just to the edge, to count the whole section.