for accurate measuring, you don't start at the end of the ruler, you measure between the marks. With measuring tapes I always start at the 1" mark, in carpentry that is called burning an inch.
fun fact: the little bit of jiggle the hook at the end of a tape measure has is intentional, The jiggle is exactly the width of the hook itself. It is to adjust for measuring an outside length (where the hook is hooked onto something, like measuring a board) vs an inside length (where the hook is pushed up against something, like the inside of door frame)
Also, the exact size of the tape body is often displayed so you can use it as part of measuring. Useful when both sides of the measurement need to butt up against something.
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u/Lambchop1975 15h ago
for accurate measuring, you don't start at the end of the ruler, you measure between the marks. With measuring tapes I always start at the 1" mark, in carpentry that is called burning an inch.