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.

My rule of thumb is to add one cup of cottage cheese for every cup of sauce.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

As a rule of thumb, every $10 rise in oil adds about five cents per pound to polyethylene, according to Morales.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

A space rule of thumb holds that costs drop 90% when robots replace people.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Vanguard’s rule of thumb is to invest 3% of income, per child, for college.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

“Maybe the flagpole could be a plan B when there isn’t the threat of storms, because avoiding tall metal poles is actually a good rule of thumb when lightning may be in the picture.”

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers