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Pedantic for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: pɪ'dæntɪk

What does Pedantic really mean?

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Student: Hey, teacher! I've come across this word "pedantic" in my reading, and I'm a bit confused about what it means. Can you help me understand it?

Teacher: Absolutely! I'd be happy to help you out. So, imagine you have a friend who always corrects your grammar, no matter how small the mistake. They're very focused on following the rules and can't help but point out when someone else isn't doing the same. That friend could be described as being "pedantic."

You see, "pedantic" is a word we use to describe a person who pays excessive attention to small details and rules. It is almost as if they are obsessed with being correct all the time. Sometimes, this can make them come across as a bit naggy or fussy, especially when it comes to grammar, punctuation, or even minor historical facts.

For example, pretend we are talking about the way we write dates in different countries. While it's important to know how different cultures do things, the pedantic person might interrupt and say, "No, no, no! It's day, month, year, not month, day, year!" They may be right, but they're not considering that people are sometimes more concerned about understanding each other than following all the rules without exception.

To sum it up, being pedantic means being overly concerned with following rules and focusing on details, often to a fault. It's like having someone who is always standing at your shoulder, ready to tell you what you're doing wrong, even if it's just a teeny tiny mistake.

Student: Wow, I think I get it now. So a pedantic person is someone who gets really caught up in the small stuff and can't let it go?

Teacher: Exactly! You've got it! It's important to remember that sometimes being correct isn't always the most important thing. It's good to have attention to detail, but being overly pedantic can sometimes get in the way of building relationships and connecting with others on a personal level.

Student: Thank you, teacher! I appreciate your help. I feel like I understand "pedantic" much better now!

Teacher: You're welcome, my student! I'm really glad I could help you out. Remember, learning new words can sometimes be tricky, but breaking them down and relating them to everyday situations can make it much easier. Keep up the great work, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions!

Revised and Fact checked by Daniel Clark on 2023-10-29 19:21:53

Pedantic In a sentece

Learn how to use Pedantic inside a sentece

  • Mr. Smith is very pedantic about grammar; he always corrects our punctuation and sentence structure in every essay.
  • My sister is a pedantic reader; she stops after every paragraph to look up unfamiliar words in the dictionary.
  • During the science experiment, Jake was being pedantic by measuring the chemical solutions with extreme precision.
  • Sarah's pedantic nature showed when she spent hours rearranging her bookshelf to ensure all the books were perfectly aligned.
  • The boss was pedantic about the formatting of all documents, requiring everyone to use the same font, size, and spacing.

Pedantic Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Pedantic Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.