Rule of Thumb
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Definition:
A rule of thumb is an easy-to-remember guideline that isn't necessarily a hard-and-fast rule or scientific formula but it's more than just a dumb guess. For centuries rule of thumb has been used as an estimated measurement by many craftsmen including carpenters, brewers, and tailors. The term referred generally to the length of the thumb from the joint to the tip, approximately an inch.
Common Misconceptions:
Unfortunately, many sources have pounced on another origin that says the term refers to the size of a stick that a husband could use to beat his wife. While the term may indeed have cropped up centuries later in reference to wife-beating, it's not the original usage and while it may be politically correct to avoid upsetting those who cling to this meaning, I personally don't adhere to that practice and this site will continue to use the term as a loose measurement or guideline.
Examples:
Typography Rule of Thumb: "For most general audiences, body copy set at 10 or 11 points is good."
Related Resources:
Rule of Thumb and Wife Beating - Mostly a Myth
About Women's History Guide Jone Johnson Lewis explains the common misconception about rule of thumb being a reference to wife beating. The article deals primarily with the very real issue of domestic violence and its linking to the term rule of thumb.
Elsewhere on the Web:
Debunker.com - The Rule of Thumb for Wife-Beating Hoax
Quotes many sources with discussion of where the misconception regarding domestic violence originated, the legal and casual references, the Oxford English Dictionary definition, and other historical references to rule of thumb as an approximation having nothing to do with wife-beating.
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