to the letter
Without any deviation
To the letter means exactly as written or specified, following every detail precisely: She followed the instructions to the letter.
The phrase emphasizes strict adherence without deviation or personal interpretation.
Someone who obeys to the letter complies with the literal text rather than its spirit or intent.
Accuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- exactitudePerfect correctness in detail
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
correctness · strictness · rigor · scrupulousness · punctiliousness · adherence · conformity · compliance
Faithful following of something
- conformityAdherence to norms
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- observanceKeeping of customs
- followingComing after another
fulfillment · execution · implementation · discipline · orthodoxy · formality · regimentation · by-the-book
Extremely careful and thorough
- scrupulousThorough and principled
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
- thoroughComplete in every detail
careful · diligent · methodical · systematic · attentive · exacting · perfectionist · precise
Exactly as stated
- textualOf written content
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
- quotationCited passage or price
- replicaFaithful scaled reproduction
copy · reproduction · duplication · transliteration · correspondence · mirror · facsimile · exact copy
precision
Accuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- exactitudePerfect correctness in detail
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
faithfulness · correctness · strictness · rigor · scrupulousness · punctiliousness · adherence · conformity · compliance · veracity
adherence
Faithful following of something
- conformityAdherence to norms
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- observanceKeeping of customs
following · fulfillment · execution · implementation · discipline · orthodoxy · formality · regimentation · by-the-book · rule-following
painstaking
Extremely careful and thorough
- scrupulousThorough and principled
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
thorough · careful · diligent · methodical · systematic · attentive · exacting · perfectionist · precise · rigorous
word-for-word
Exactly as stated
- textualOf written content
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
- quotationCited passage or price
replica · copy · reproduction · duplication · transliteration · correspondence · mirror · facsimile · exact copy · direct quote
- accuracyaccurate, precise, exact, correct, right
- Precision phraseson the mark, on target, spot on, dead on, bulls-eye
- detailsdetail, particular, specific, fact, point
- Book Idiomsby the book, closed book, open book, on the same page, same page
- fussinessfussiness, pickiness, picky, nitpicky, persnickety
to the letterapproximately
Close but not exact
roughly · loosely · more or less · carelessly · inexactly
to the letterin spirit
Present emotionally, not physically
in principle · in essence · interpretively · liberally · freely
letter, letters, literal, lettered, literate, literacy, lettering, literally, illiterate