rule of thumb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Their rule of thumb is that a sustained 10% increase in oil boosts the inflation rate by 0.2 percentage points, and the core inflation rate by 0.04 points.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

As a general rule of thumb: where eyeballs go, advertisers follow.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

When looking for a sweet spot to buy back into stocks, Nicholas Colas, co-founder of DataTrek, told MarketWatch that seeing the VIX close at 27.5 or above is as a solid rule of thumb.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

“My usual rule of thumb is, move the decimal point one place to the left,” Matheson said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

This looks to us like a principle, maxim, or rule of thumb, not a law, because it lacks specificity.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton