wˌɛn mˈɛʒɚɹɪŋ ɐ kˈoʊstlaɪn, haʊˈɛvɚ, ðə klˈoʊsɚ mˈɛʒɚmənt dʌznˌɑːt ɹɪzˈʌlt ɪn ɐn ˈɪŋkɹiːs ɪn ˈækjʊɹəsi—ðə mˈɛʒɚmənt ˈoʊnli ˈɪŋkɹiːsᵻz ɪn lˈɛŋθ; ʌnlˈaɪk wɪððə mˈɛɾəl bˈɑːɹ, ðɛɹ ɪz nˈoʊ wˈeɪ tʊ əbtˈeɪn ɐ mˈæksɪməm vˈæljuː fɚðə lˈɛŋθ ʌvðə kˈoʊstlaɪn.
When measuring a coastline, however, the closer measurement does not result in an increase in accuracy—the measurement only increases in length; unlike with the metal bar, there is no way to obtain a maximum value for the length of the coastline.