pedantic

Pedantic describes a person or style that places excessive emphasis on formal rules, accuracy, and minute details, often to the point of derailing or obstructing communication. It can also refer to a tendency to correct small errors and to insist on trivial points of knowledge, even when those points have little bearing on practical outcomes.

The term derives from the French word pédant, which in turn came from Italian pedante, and ultimately referred to a tutor or schoolmaster; the sense broadened to describe someone who overemphasizes formal rules or pedantries.

In usage, "pedantic" is commonly used critically to contrast with rigor or thorough scholarship. A pedantic remark focuses on correctness of form (spelling, punctuation, definitions) rather than substance. It is distinct from conscientious precision, which aims at clarity and accuracy without nitpicking. Pedantry can impede communication when it corrects minor points or uses technical jargon to obscure.

In culture and discourse, pedantry appears in educational contexts, professional settings, and online debates, where individuals may police language or standards. Some contexts valorize exactness—mathematical proofs, legal drafting—while others discourage pedantry for its social friction.