During measurement, what is expected of both accuracy and precision?

The expectation of both accuracy and precision is that they should ideally align in measurement. Accuracy refers to how close a measured value is to the actual (true) value, whereas precision indicates the consistency or repeatability of measurements—essentially how close multiple measurements are to each other, regardless of whether they are close to the true value.

When both accuracy and precision align, it means that repeated measurements yield values that are close to each other (demonstrating precision) and also close to the true value (demonstrating accuracy). This alignment is crucial in fields such as science and engineering, where reliable and valid measurements are essential for making informed decisions and conclusions.

In contrast to this ideal scenario, inconsistent measurements might indicate a lack of precision, while completely random measurements could suggest that accuracy is lacking, but they are not governed by a set of standards that ensure the values are meaningful. Therefore, the goal in measurement practices is to strive for both accuracy and precision to ensure a high quality of data.