Definitions
- Describing someone who is overly concerned with small details and can be difficult to please. - Referring to a person who is fussy or particular about things being done in a specific way. - Talking about someone who is meticulous and nitpicky about the smallest things.
- Describing someone who is very attentive to detail and cleanliness. - Referring to a person who is very particular about their appearance, hygiene, or surroundings. - Talking about someone who is meticulous and demanding when it comes to quality or standards.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe people who are very particular about something.
- 2Both words suggest a high level of attention to detail.
- 3Both words can have a negative connotation if taken to an extreme.
- 4Both words can be used to describe someone who is hard to please.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Pernickety is more commonly used in British English, while fastidious is more common in American English.
- 2Focus: Pernickety emphasizes fussiness and being difficult to please, while fastidious emphasizes attention to detail and high standards.
- 3Connotation: Pernickety can have a negative connotation of being overly critical or petty, while fastidious can have a positive connotation of being meticulous and having high standards.
- 4Scope: Fastidious can be used to describe a wider range of contexts, including cleanliness, appearance, and quality, while pernickety is more limited to being fussy about small details.
Remember this!
Pernickety and fastidious both describe people who are very particular about something and have a high level of attention to detail. However, pernickety emphasizes fussiness and being difficult to please, while fastidious emphasizes attention to detail and high standards. Additionally, pernickety has a more informal and playful origin and is more limited in scope, while fastidious has a more formal and serious origin and can be used to describe a wider range of contexts.
