rule of thumb
Practical general principle
A rule of thumb is a rough practical guideline rather than a precise measurement or strict rule: As a rule of thumb, plan on one bottle of wine for every two guests.
The phrase suggests useful approximations derived from experience rather than exact calculation.
Rules of thumb work well enough for everyday purposes but may fail in edge cases.
Quicker alternative path
- approximationNear but inexact value
- guidelineRecommended standard for action
- estimationApproximate value judgment
- guesstimateRough, intuitive calculation
ballpark · mental shortcut · simplification · problem-solving · decision-making · back-of-envelope · snap judgment · rough estimate
Native practical judgment
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
- pragmaticFocused on workable solutions
- handyUseful and nearby
- usefulServing a purpose
general · informal · basic · intuitive · convenient · ad hoc · folklore · traditional
Traditional pithy truth
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
- maximBrief moral principle
- sayingShort, wise expression
- aphorismTerse general truth
axiom · folk wisdom · received wisdom · old saw · truism · pearl of wisdom · conventional wisdom · sage advice
Standard for comparison
- criterionStandard for judgment
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- principleFundamental truth or standard
recommendation · procedure · norm · yardstick · baseline · reference point · framework · touchstone
shortcut
Quicker alternative path
- approximationNear but inexact value
- guidelineRecommended standard for action
- estimationApproximate value judgment
guesstimate · ballpark · mental shortcut · simplification · problem-solving · decision-making · back-of-envelope · snap judgment · rough estimate · rough-and-ready
common sense
Native practical judgment
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
- pragmaticFocused on workable solutions
- handyUseful and nearby
useful · general · informal · basic · intuitive · convenient · ad hoc · folklore · traditional · time-honored
adage
Traditional pithy truth
aphorism · axiom · folk wisdom · received wisdom · old saw · truism · pearl of wisdom · conventional wisdom · sage advice · home truth
benchmark
Standard for comparison
principle · recommendation · procedure · norm · yardstick · baseline · reference point · framework · touchstone · litmus test
- heuristicsheuristic, guideline, mental shortcut, educated guess, guesstimate
- adviceadvice, advise, tips, counsel, guidance
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- Old Idiomsbeyond the pale, hue and cry, scot-free, knight in shining armor, eat humble pie
- measurement idiomsinch by inch, give an inch, whole nine yards, by a mile, go the extra mile
- cognitive biasesconfirmation bias, anchoring bias, negativity bias, framing effect, optimism bias
rule of thumbregulation
Official rules governing conduct
legal requirement · law · statute · standard operating procedure · mandate
rule of thumbempirical evidence
Proof from measurable observation
evidence-based practice · first principles · theoretical model · controlled study