How to Use rule of thumb in a Sentence

rule of thumb

noun phrase

• For them, too, the rule of thumb has been to make nice.
  — Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Jan. 2025
• Bands play in the billiard room, and chaos is the rule of thumb.
  — Taran Dugal, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2024
• So, a good rule of thumb is to get a feel for the weight of the pot and pick it up.
  — Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 13 Oct. 2023
• As a rule of thumb, 24 ounces of berries will feed a dozen guests.
  — Aleksandra Crapanzano / Photographs By F. Martin Ramin/the Wall Street Journal, Food Styling By Kim Ramin , WSJ, 10 Nov. 2023
• As a rule of thumb, a 4- to 5-foot-tall dahlia needs about three ties.
  — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2025
• The rule of thumb is to select the one that best meets the client’s needs and budget.
  — Laxmi Corp, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023
• As a rule of thumb: the darker the wash, the more sleek your denim looks.
  — Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 6 May 2023
• As a rule of thumb, the edge angle for a field knife should be around 20° to 25°.
  — Jim Cobb, Field & Stream, 21 Sep. 2023
• The rule of thumb is that your urine should be clear in color.
  — Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Dec. 2024
• The rule of thumb is to space art two inches apart on a gallery wall.
  — Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
• As a rule of thumb, listen to your body, said Dr. Wyles.
  — Jenny McCoy, Health, 7 Sep. 2023
• Here’s a good rule of thumb (or paw): Place your hand flat on the pavement.
  — Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2024
• As a rule of thumb, what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain, and vice versa.
  — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 13 Jan. 2025
• As a rule of thumb, the more local and present the owner, the more likely the home will be well run.
  — Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 23 July 2024
• No more than 40 percent of your gross income is the rule of thumb.
  — Suchita Nayar, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2023
• Jim's rule of thumb is one hour of homework per week per stock.
  — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 June 2025
• Ideally, a deep clean once a year is a good rule of thumb.
  — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2025
• The rule of thumb is: As long as the upper looks dressy, the sole can be more athletic.
  — Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 5 Sep. 2023
• As a rule of thumb, look for something from a reputable brand.
  — Andrew Gebhart, PCMAG, 8 Oct. 2024
• As a rule of thumb, measure your table and add 4 feet to both its length and width.
  — Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2024
• As a rule of thumb, the U.N. assumes that ten per cent of ordnance fail to function.
  — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 8 May 2024
• As a rule of thumb, assume 1%–2% of the home’s value every year.
  — Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
• The rule of thumb is that 10 to 20% of guests invited will not attend, Rhee says .
  — Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 3 May 2023
• Nguyen says the rule of thumb most chefs follow is to leave bacon grease in the freezer for up to a year.
  — Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2024
• MicroCo’s rule of thumb is that a show must hook a viewer within 3 seconds (give or take a few seconds).
  — Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 June 2026
• There is no magic amount to use, but as a rule of thumb, two spritzes directly to the skin should always be plenty—sometimes too much.
  — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
• The variations are endless, but like certain dance steps, there are a few rules of thumb to follow to create the perfect bite.
  — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
• As a rule of thumb, water your vegetable garden two to three times per week.
  — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 June 2026
• For years, financial planners have recommended a simple rule of thumb to help drivers avoid taking on too much car debt.
  — Mike Winters, CNBC, 8 June 2026
• There’s no need to strictly measure; however, a good rule of thumb is to use 4 to 6 quarts of water per pound of pasta.
  — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026