guide vs rule of thumb

guide

noun
  • A document or book that offers information or instruction; guidebook. 

  • Someone who guides, especially someone hired to show people around a place or an institution and offer information and explanation, or to lead them through dangerous terrain. 

  • A grooved director for a probe or knife in surgery. 

  • A sign that guides people; guidepost. 

  • A blade or channel for directing the flow of water to the buckets in a water wheel. 

  • A spirit believed to speak through a medium. 

  • A member of a group marching in formation who sets the pattern of movement or alignment for the rest. 

  • Any marking or object that catches the eye to provide quick reference. 

verb
  • to serve as a guide for someone or something; to lead or direct in a way; to conduct in a course or path. 

  • to act as a guide. 

  • to exert control or influence over someone or something. 

  • to supervise the education or training of someone. 

  • to steer or navigate, especially a ship or as a pilot. 

rule of thumb

noun
  • A general guideline, rather than a strict rule; an approximate measure or means of reckoning based on experience or common knowledge. 

  • Approximated, guesstimated. 

How often have the words guide and rule of thumb occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )