Murray -

I guess I'll have to check at the lumber yard. That was the change that wrecked an add-in wall a few years back, when one old 2-by got mixed in with the new ones. I do have one 3-3/4 in my scrap rack, but it's a shorty several years (maybe several decades) old. I'll have to check to make sure things haven't changed again, since it's been a several years since I did any framing that required knowing. I did check with one of the "home improvement" websites, and found them still indicating 1-3/4 x 3-3/4, but the site data may be as old as I am.

There has been a growing trend here to using 2 x 6 studs for exterior walls, since it allows space for more insulation, and a few builders have been using steel framing which is "smaller" than 2 x 4s for interior walls; but I haven't checked what the dimensions are for the steel since it wouldn't match anything I've got.

Of course if you've got a smaller/newer stud you can always put it in flush with the side you need to mount stuff to; but that risks busting the board on the other side of the wall when you decide to hang something in the other room. Some people do use staggered 2 x 4s on 2 x 6 plates (or even 2 x 3 studs on 2 x 4 plates non-bearing) for acoustic separation on interior walls, especially between condo units; but I think it would be uncommon in single-family construction.

"The key to master carpentry is having the mistakes not show."

John