Is It Benchmark or Benchmarking?

Benchmarks are reference points or measurements used for comparison, usually with the connotation that the benchmark is a 'good' standard against which comparison can be made. Benchmarking is a process of finding good practice and of learning from others.

Why is a benchmark called a benchmark?

The term benchmark, bench mark, or survey benchmark originates from the chiseled horizontal marks that surveyors made in stone structures, into which an angle-iron could be placed to form a "bench" for a leveling rod, thus ensuring that a leveling rod could be accurately repositioned in the same place in the future.

How do you use the word benchmark?

Benchmark sentence example
  1. Toy horse and rider sets are almost a benchmark of childhood. ...
  2. This elaborates the themes set out in Benjamin's previous benchmark book. ...
  3. For part-time undergraduates we have 0.9% against benchmark 1.1% (compared to 3.9 against a benchmark of 1.1 last year ).
Elena Rostova

Elena Rostova

Lead Health, Wellness & Medical Journalist

Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.