How to Read a Ruler
Get an English ruler., Learn the inch marks., Learn the 1/2 inch marks., Learn the 1/4 of an inch marks., Learn the 1/8 of an inch marks., Learn the 1/16 of an inch marks.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Get an English ruler.
You will know it is an English ruler because it will have 12 lines that denote inches on the ruler. 12 inches equals 1 foot (0.3 m).
The 1 foot (0.3 m) is broken down into inches.
Each inch is broken down into 15 smaller marks, equaling 16 marks in total for each inch on the ruler.The longer the line on the surface of the ruler, the bigger the measurement is.
Ranging from 1 inch to 1/16 of an inch, the lines decrease in size as the unit of measurement does.
Make sure you read the ruler from left to right.
If you are measuring something, align it with the left side of the ruler.
The place where the object ends on the right will be its measurement in inches. -
Step 2: Learn the inch marks.
A ruler is made up of 12 inch marks.
These are typically the numbered marks on the ruler and are denoted by the longest lines on the ruler.
For example, if you need to measure a nail, place one end directly on the left side of the ruler.
If it ends directly above the long line next to the large number 5, then the nail is 5 inches long.Some rulers will also denote 1/2 inches with numbers, so make sure you are using the largest numbers with the longest lines as your inch markers. , The 1/2 inch marks will be the second longest lines on the ruler, half as long as the inch marks.
Each 1/2 inch mark will come midway between each inch number because it is half of an inch.
This means that marks directly between the 0 and 1 inch, 1 and 2 inches, 2 and 3 inches, and so on across the ruler, are the 1/2 inch marks.
In total, there are 24 of these marks on a ruler.For example, place the ruler against a pencil with the eraser at the far left of the ruler.
Mark where the tip of the pencil lead ends on the ruler.
If the pencil point ends at the shorter line halfway between the 4 and 5 inches marks, then your pencil is 4 and 1/2 inches long. , halfway in between each 1/2 inch line, there will be a smaller line that denotes a 1/4 of an inch.
In the first inch, these marks will mark 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch.
Although the 1/2 inch and 1 inch marks have their own lines, they are still part of the 1/4 of an inch measurements because 2/4 of an inch equals half an inch and 4/4 of an inch equals 1 inch.
There are a total of 48 of these marks on a ruler.For example, if you measure a carrot and the tip falls on the line halfway between the 6 1/2 and 7 inch lines, the carrot is 6 and 3/4 inches long. , The 1/8 of an inch marks are the smaller marks found directly in between the 1/4 of an inch marks on the ruler.
Between 0 and 1 inch, there are marks that denote 1/8, 1/4 (or 2/8), 3/8, 1/2 (or 4/8), 5/8, 6/8 (or 3/4), 7/8, and 1 (or 8/8) of an inch.
In total, there are 96 of these marks on a ruler.For example, you measure a piece of fabric and the edge falls on the 6th line after the 4 inch mark, which is directly in between the 1/4 of an inch mark and the 1/2 inch mark.
This means that your fabric is 4 and 3/8 inches long. , The small lines halfway between each 1/8 of an inch denote 1/16 of an inch.
These are also the smallest lines on the ruler.
The very first line on the left hand side of the ruler is the 1/16 of an inch mark.
Between 0 and 1 inch, there are marks that denote 1/16, 2/16 (or 1/8), 3/16, 4/16 (or 1/4), 5/16, 6/16 (or 3/8), 7/16, 8/16 (or 1/2), 9/16, 10/16 (or 5/8), 11/16, 12/16 (3/4), 13/16, 14/16 (or 7/8), 15/16, 16/16 (or 1) of an inch.
There are a total of 192 of these lines on the ruler.For example, you measure a flower stem and the end of the stem falls on the 11th line after the 5 inch mark.
The flower stem is 5 and 11/16 inches long.
Not every ruler will have the 1/16 inch mark.
If you plan on measuring things that are small or you need to be extremely accurate, make sure the ruler you use has these marks. -
Step 3: Learn the 1/2 inch marks.
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Step 4: Learn the 1/4 of an inch marks.
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Step 5: Learn the 1/8 of an inch marks.
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Step 6: Learn the 1/16 of an inch marks.
Detailed Guide
You will know it is an English ruler because it will have 12 lines that denote inches on the ruler. 12 inches equals 1 foot (0.3 m).
The 1 foot (0.3 m) is broken down into inches.
Each inch is broken down into 15 smaller marks, equaling 16 marks in total for each inch on the ruler.The longer the line on the surface of the ruler, the bigger the measurement is.
Ranging from 1 inch to 1/16 of an inch, the lines decrease in size as the unit of measurement does.
Make sure you read the ruler from left to right.
If you are measuring something, align it with the left side of the ruler.
The place where the object ends on the right will be its measurement in inches.
A ruler is made up of 12 inch marks.
These are typically the numbered marks on the ruler and are denoted by the longest lines on the ruler.
For example, if you need to measure a nail, place one end directly on the left side of the ruler.
If it ends directly above the long line next to the large number 5, then the nail is 5 inches long.Some rulers will also denote 1/2 inches with numbers, so make sure you are using the largest numbers with the longest lines as your inch markers. , The 1/2 inch marks will be the second longest lines on the ruler, half as long as the inch marks.
Each 1/2 inch mark will come midway between each inch number because it is half of an inch.
This means that marks directly between the 0 and 1 inch, 1 and 2 inches, 2 and 3 inches, and so on across the ruler, are the 1/2 inch marks.
In total, there are 24 of these marks on a ruler.For example, place the ruler against a pencil with the eraser at the far left of the ruler.
Mark where the tip of the pencil lead ends on the ruler.
If the pencil point ends at the shorter line halfway between the 4 and 5 inches marks, then your pencil is 4 and 1/2 inches long. , halfway in between each 1/2 inch line, there will be a smaller line that denotes a 1/4 of an inch.
In the first inch, these marks will mark 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch.
Although the 1/2 inch and 1 inch marks have their own lines, they are still part of the 1/4 of an inch measurements because 2/4 of an inch equals half an inch and 4/4 of an inch equals 1 inch.
There are a total of 48 of these marks on a ruler.For example, if you measure a carrot and the tip falls on the line halfway between the 6 1/2 and 7 inch lines, the carrot is 6 and 3/4 inches long. , The 1/8 of an inch marks are the smaller marks found directly in between the 1/4 of an inch marks on the ruler.
Between 0 and 1 inch, there are marks that denote 1/8, 1/4 (or 2/8), 3/8, 1/2 (or 4/8), 5/8, 6/8 (or 3/4), 7/8, and 1 (or 8/8) of an inch.
In total, there are 96 of these marks on a ruler.For example, you measure a piece of fabric and the edge falls on the 6th line after the 4 inch mark, which is directly in between the 1/4 of an inch mark and the 1/2 inch mark.
This means that your fabric is 4 and 3/8 inches long. , The small lines halfway between each 1/8 of an inch denote 1/16 of an inch.
These are also the smallest lines on the ruler.
The very first line on the left hand side of the ruler is the 1/16 of an inch mark.
Between 0 and 1 inch, there are marks that denote 1/16, 2/16 (or 1/8), 3/16, 4/16 (or 1/4), 5/16, 6/16 (or 3/8), 7/16, 8/16 (or 1/2), 9/16, 10/16 (or 5/8), 11/16, 12/16 (3/4), 13/16, 14/16 (or 7/8), 15/16, 16/16 (or 1) of an inch.
There are a total of 192 of these lines on the ruler.For example, you measure a flower stem and the end of the stem falls on the 11th line after the 5 inch mark.
The flower stem is 5 and 11/16 inches long.
Not every ruler will have the 1/16 inch mark.
If you plan on measuring things that are small or you need to be extremely accurate, make sure the ruler you use has these marks.
About the Author
Sarah Ellis
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow crafts tutorials.
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