a good gauge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a good gauge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a reliable measure or indicator of something, often in contexts like assessments, evaluations, or comparisons. Example: "The survey results serve as a good gauge of customer satisfaction with our services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wages, a good gauge of labour demand, are growing sluggishly.

The Economist

What it wasn't was a good gauge of Russian discontent.

The New York Times

Beer sales, for instance, are often a good gauge of overall consumer spending.

The Economist

Car sales, which are a good gauge of consumer confidence, are surging.

The New Yorker

That's a good gauge of the way things are, and that shows how difficult it is.

The New York Times - Sports

A unique blend of factors made South Africa's currency a good gauge of how investors feel.

The Economist

But income is not always a good gauge of economic power.

The New York Times

I'm going to make sure I like you personally, because I think that's a good gauge.

The New York Times

A good gauge of a spa is the number of professionals on staff.

The New York Times - Travel

The card industry is a good gauge of how consumers are spending and what they are buying.

The New York Times

But Japan's broadly defined services index, which is a good gauge of non-manufacturing strength, rose sharply (see chart).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a good gauge", ensure the context clearly defines what is being measured. For example, "customer satisfaction surveys are a good gauge of our product's success".

Common error

Avoid using "a good gauge" when the indicator is unreliable or based on limited data. For example, stating "one person's opinion is a good gauge of public sentiment" is often inaccurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a good gauge" functions primarily as a predicative adjective, describing a noun as being a reliable indicator or measure. This aligns with Ludwig's AI analysis indicating its correctness and usability. Examples in Ludwig show it modifying nouns like "sales", "exports", and "profit margin" to describe their effectiveness as indicators.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a good gauge" is a correct and frequently used phrase, functioning as a predicative adjective to describe something as a reliable indicator. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability. It's commonly found in news, business, and scientific contexts to objectively point out reliable measures or assessments. When using this phrase, ensure that the context makes it clear exactly what aspect is being measured, and remember to avoid overgeneralization by only applying it to truly reliable indicators. Alternatives such as "a reliable indicator" or "a useful metric" can be used for a slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reliable indicator

Focuses on the dependability of the measure.

a useful metric

Emphasizes the practical application of the measure.

a telling sign

Highlights the revealing nature of the indicator.

an accurate barometer

Suggests a precise reflection of current conditions.

a valid criterion

Focuses on the legitimacy and appropriateness of the standard.

a decent approximation

Implies an estimation that is reasonably close to the actual value.

a fair indication

Suggests an unbiased and balanced representation.

a reasonable estimate

Highlights the logical and justifiable nature of the assessment.

a rough yardstick

Implies a basic or simplified method of evaluation.

a helpful benchmark

Focuses on using the measure as a point of reference for comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "a good gauge" in a sentence?

You can use "a good gauge" to indicate something that effectively measures or assesses a particular aspect. For instance, "Employee morale is "a good gauge" of the company's overall health".

What can I say instead of "a good gauge"?

You can use alternatives like "a reliable indicator", "a useful metric", or "a telling sign" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "a good gauge" or "a reliable measure"?

Both "a good gauge" and "a reliable measure" are suitable, but "a good gauge" often implies an approximate or indicative assessment, while "a reliable measure" suggests a more precise and dependable evaluation.

In what situations is "a good gauge" most appropriate?

"A good gauge" is appropriate when referring to something that provides a general sense or indication of something else, particularly when a precise measurement isn't necessary or available. It's commonly used in contexts where assessing trends, sentiments, or overall conditions is more important than exact figures.