How do you read inches?

Answer 1

The first or middle joint of an index finger might be about an inch long, but measure yours to be sure. You might want to try other finger joints until you find one that is an inch. That can be used as a rough measure if you don't have a ruler handy.

Now, to read fractions of inches, this is how it works. The longest lines are the one inch lines. Halfway between those are the half inch lines. Between those are the 1/4 inch lines. There are also 1/8 inch lines and often 1/16" lines. Very rarely would you find finer measurements than 1/16" on a ruler. If you are in doubt as to the significance of a certain size line, then count them. Start at an even inch and count that size line and include the large line starting the next inch. So if there are 8 evenly spaced lines ending with the large line starting the next inch, then you know you are working with 8ths of an inch. The smaller lines include the larger lines. So if you are counting in 8ths, the 1/4" lines also count. If you start with 1/16, you can count every line.