Basic Details
Word: Pedant
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A person who cares too much about small details and rules, especially in learning, and keeps pointing out tiny mistakes.
Synonyms: nitpicker, hair-splitter, stickler
Word origin: From Italian pedante.
How to Spell Pedant
Syllables: ped - ant
Tricky part: The ending is ant, not ent, so pedent is wrong. There is only one d and the first vowel is a plain e.
Watch out for: pedent, peddant, peadant
Memory tip: A pedant checks every detail the way an ant inspects each grain: ped + ant.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Only a pedant would correct the spelling in a birthday card.
Example 2: My cousin is a pedant about grammar and corrects everyone's messages.
Example 3: Don't be a pedant; the answer is close enough.
Fun Fact
When pedant came into English from Italian in the late 1500s, it simply meant a schoolmaster. The sense of a fussy show-off about small details came later.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word pedant as used in the sentence:
Mr Iyer, a pedant about commas, returned my essay covered in red ink.
a) dreamer
b) rebel
c) stickler
d) beginner
Show answer
c) stickler. A stickler insists on every rule being followed, which is what Mr Iyer does with commas.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Only a tenpad would complain that the clock in the hall is two seconds slow.
a) pendant
b) pedant
c) pageant
d) peasant
Show answer
b) pedant. Count the letters: the jumble has six, and pendant, peasant and pageant each have seven.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
My uncle is such a pedent that he writes a letter to the newspaper whenever a headline breaks a rule of grammar.
a) pedent
b) headline
c) uncle
d) letter
Show answer
a) pedent. The word ends in ant, the same three letters as the insect.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A pedant is most likely to notice ____.
a) a friend's new haircut
b) a missing comma in a poster
c) the colour of the sky
d) the smell of rain
Show answer
b) a missing comma in a poster
2. Calling someone a pedant is usually ____.
a) a medical term
b) a mild criticism
c) a job title
d) high praise
Show answer
b) a mild criticism
