The unique design of the vernier scale eliminates the optical-variation in reading caused by the different positions of the operator's eye. It also eliminates the guesswork of reading measurements between dial graduations.

Reading the Vernier Scale: Take the .001" reading from the dial graduation nearest zero ("0") on the vernier scale. In the illustration, .002" is the nearest to it. Then, reading to the right on the vernier scale, the number 2 graduation coincides exactly with a graduation on the micrometer dial. Therefore, the reading in the example to the right is .0022"