punctilio
Fine point observed
Punctilio is a fine point of etiquette or procedure, or the strict observance of such details.
The word suggests excessive attention to formality: He observed every punctilio of diplomatic protocol.
Someone who insists on punctilios may be seen as rigid or fussy.
The adjective punctilious describes a person who pays careful attention to proper form.
Petty precise particulars
- particularsIndividual facts or details
- specificsExact details of something
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
- nicetySubtle point or refinement
subtlety · technicality · trifle · intricacy · hair-splitting · exactitude · preciseness · triviality
Customs of polite conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- decorumFitting social conduct
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
civility · protocol · observance · formality · correctness · nicety · gallantry · gentility
Quality of being unbending
- strictnessInflexibility in enforcement
- stiffnessResistance to deformation
- formalismPrivileging structure over substance
- rigidnessState of being stiff
unyieldingness · stringency · sternness · austerity · orthodoxy · conformity · intransigence · dogmatism
Thorough and principled
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
- exactingDemanding great care
- preciseExactly correct, no error
- carefulExercising caution and attention
particular · painstaking · conscientious · thorough · perfectionist · fussy · finicky · persnickety
minutiae
Petty precise particulars
- particularsIndividual facts or details
- specificsExact details of something
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
nicety · subtlety · technicality · trifle · intricacy · hair-splitting · exactitude · preciseness · triviality · incidental
manners
Customs of polite conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- decorumFitting social conduct
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
politeness · civility · protocol · observance · formality · correctness · nicety · gallantry · gentility · refinement
inflexibility
Quality of being unbending
- strictnessInflexibility in enforcement
- stiffnessResistance to deformation
- formalismPrivileging structure over substance
rigidness · unyieldingness · stringency · sternness · austerity · orthodoxy · conformity · intransigence · dogmatism · pedantry
scrupulous
Thorough and principled
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
- exactingDemanding great care
- preciseExactly correct, no error
careful · particular · painstaking · conscientious · thorough · perfectionist · fussy · finicky · persnickety · nitpicking
- etiquettemanners, politeness, etiquette, table manners, courtesy
- nitpickingnitpicking, hairsplitter, splitting hairs, quibbling, cavil
punctilioinformality
Relaxed, unofficial tone
discourtesy · impoliteness · rudeness · crudeness · casualness
punctiliocarelessness
Inattention causing mistakes
sloppiness · negligence · inattention · imprecision · inexactness