Tittle

A very small particle or speck; a jot or iota. More broadly, it refers to a small, insignificant detail, especially one that is considered unimportant or a trifle. Often used in the context of legal or literary analysis to denote a minor aspect that may be the focus of debate, the word emphasizes the relative lack of consequence or importance assigned to something minute. It can highlight the meticulous examination of fine points, sometimes to an excessive degree or to distract from larger issues. The term is derived from the Middle English 'titel' and Old English 'titl' (meaning 'stroke, mark, or small quantity').

Tittle meaning with examples

• The lawyer meticulously dissected every tittle of the contract, poring over its fine print. He even argued about whether the spacing between words could influence its legality. The opposing council rolled their eyes.
• Despite the grand scheme of the project, his colleagues were obsessed with the tittle of each specific detail. They endlessly debated the optimal font size for headings in their presentation and whether a colon or semicolon should be used.
• She obsessed over every tittle in her manuscript, even the most minor punctuation marks, which delayed her book publication. She wanted it to be perfect, even though most people wouldn't notice.
• The scholars engaged in a lengthy and rather heated argument concerning the precise tittle of the historical document, debating whether a specific mark was a deliberate addition or accidental.
• While the politician gave a rousing speech, his opponents tried to discredit him by focusing on a perceived tittle in his past record. The effort was mostly considered to be distracting from the more important issues.