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.

A common rule of thumb says to buy builders at one-times book value and sell at two-times.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

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

From Salon • May 24, 2026

“The rule of thumb I use with clients is six months liquid, minimum, and that number goes up if you’re carrying financial responsibility for adult children or aging parents.”

From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026

There’s no real rule of thumb for this, other than that it’s always best to keep your immediate cash needs liquid in a high-yield savings account or money-market account.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

“Over the years military planners have arrived at a rule of thumb which dictates that functional fighting units cannot be substantially larger than 200 men,” Dunbar writes.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell