ruler and rule

[jaysplace2]

could someone please tell me if there is a difference between a rule and a ruler as in the impliment you draw straight lines with , thank you

[Quizmonster]

Amongst tradesmen - carpenters and masons especially - 'rule' is the only name they will accept for the calibrated, straight-edge device they use for marking lines. For all the rest of us, we are perfectly happy to call it a 'ruler'. In other words, some people claim there is a difference.

[jaysplace2]

thanks quissmonster someone did tell me that the rule is the one that starts right at the end and a ruler is one that starts a cm or so in ,,, jase

[Quizmonkey]

I think it's a question of size. To me, a ruler can only be 6" or 12". Anything longer (like the ones we use in our design studio) are most definitely rules.

[Quizmonster]

Mayfair Stationers sell what they call a "Linex Blackboard Metric Ruler" for �10.09. It's a metre long! As I said earlier, it depends purely on who or what you are...ie if your trade/profession depends utterly on accurate measurement and line-drawing, you'll call it a rule and if it doesn't you'll call it a ruler. I'd say it's as simple as that.

[heathfield]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruler

[AndyBlack]

I do believe a rule is for drawing straight lines, where as a ruler is for measuring

[Azimov]

A rose by any name... etc
I agree with QM, it depends who you talk to, so I suspect there's a little professional snobbery at work here too.
Language changes over time and this may well be one "casualty" of the evolution of our mother tongue, which tends to borrow from other languages and disciplines.
Perhaps at one time the word was used solely in a technical sense and had a more accurate technical definition which has been lost as it's use became more widespread.

Quite why the word had an "r" added is beyond me though.
Actually, on second thoughts, that brings to mind a further question.
Might the word "rule" have been used as a verb meaning "to measure" or similar, in which case an object used to "rule" might be commonly referred to as a "ruler"?

Just a thought.

I'm thinking of the phrase "to rule something out"!

[jno]

both words have other meanings, which may muddy the water (ruler = king, rule = precept), but I personally always use ruler even for the metre-long ones (or yard-long, if you prefer). But then, I'm not a mason. Saves me rolling up trouser legs.