VOA名师答疑2023--Gauge and Yardstick

Gauge¹ and Yardstick²

Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about "gauge" and "yardstick."

Question:

Dear teacher，

I am Anora, your loyal reader from China. I am glad to write an email to you again.

I am confused by the words, "gauge" and "yardstick". I sincerely hope to know their differences.

Looking forward to your marvelous answers.

Yours,

Anora

Answer

Thanks for writing to us, Anora.

A "yardstick" is a measuring device. The length of a "yardstick" is three feet or .9144 meters long. We measure large things using yardsticks³, like fabric⁴ or furniture.

I used a yardstick to measure fabric for a dress that I will make.

Calling something a "yardstick" is to say it is a standard by which to judge something:

The teachers used the test results as a yardstick for how much their students learned this year.

Dancers use their technique as a yardstick for improvement.

Now let's move onto "gauge."

Like "yardstick," a "gauge" involves measurement. Instead of measuring length, a "gauge" can measure distance, size, width, or the thickness of material or objects.

For example, needles are sized by gauges⁵ to show their thickness.

My ears were pierced using an 18-gauge needle.

A gauge can also be a device or instrument for measuring.

Sam uses a digital thermometer as a temperature gauge when he cooks.

As a verb, "gauge" has several meanings. The first meaning is to measure the exact size or number of something.

Weather scientists gauged⁶ snow fall at 12 inches.

We can also use "gauge" to mean estimate.

I gauge that we will have about 70 people at the wedding.

And lastly, "gauge" can also be used to describe judging other people's emotions or opinions.

Social media companies often gauge their users' interests with questions and opinion studies.

He couldn't gauge his sister's feelings about the new move.

Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Anora.

What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at [email protected]

Words in This Story

standard –n. a level of quality, size or some other condition that is considered acceptable or desirable

pierce– v.to cut a hole in the body to wear earrings⁷ or other jewelry⁸

dial - n. a round part on a piece of equipment that you turn to operate something

thermometer– n. a device used for taking a person's temperature

1 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

2 yardstick   

n.计算标准，尺度；评价标准

参考例句：

• This is a yardstick for measuring whether a person is really progressive.这是衡量一个人是否真正进步的标准。
• She was a yardstick against which I could measure my achievements.她是一个我可以用来衡量我的成就的准绳。

3 yardsticks   

比较或衡量的标准，尺度( yardstick的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Your success in life can be measured by many yardsticks. 你在生活方面的成功是可以用许多标准来衡量的。
• Common yardsticks for measuring success are cost, choice, performance, and security. 判断一个操作系统是否成功的通用尺度包括成本、普及度、性能和安全性。

4 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

5 gauges   

n.规格( gauge的名词复数 )；厚度；宽度；标准尺寸v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的第三人称单数 )；估计；计量；划分

参考例句：

• A thermometer gauges the temperature. 温度计可测量温度。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The fuel gauges dropped swiftly. 燃料表指针迅速下降。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 gauged   

adj.校准的；标准的；量规的；量计的v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的过去式和过去分词 )；估计；计量；划分

参考例句：

• He picked up the calipers and gauged carefully. 他拿起卡钳仔细测量。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Distance is gauged by journey time rather than miles. 距离以行程时间而非英里数来计算。 来自辞典例句

7 earrings   

n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子

参考例句：

• a pair of earrings 一对耳环
• These earrings snap on with special fastener. 这付耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。