quibble

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'quibble' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a minor nitpicking argument or complaint. For example: "He quibbled over the tiniest details, even though most people agreed with his main point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And if the organisers had taken care to ensure that was the case by including judo in this year's programme (accounting for a quarter of Scotland's total medal tally) it would be churlish to quibble.

The Guardian - Sport

And with four years as her nation's chief diplomat on the world stage under her belt, Mrs Clinton's personal gravitas is even harder to quibble with than it might have been in 2008.

The Guardian - Opinion

Brexit fans in the British Isles will find few allies on the Polish political scene How, then, can you quibble with such a union?

The Guardian

But that is a quibble.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr Cameron pushed back when needed, but left the glory to his colleague.One can quibble about the promise.

The Economist

Nowadays their customers are more likely to be tired and irritable travellers, picking up the keys at an airport hire desk, lacking the energy to quibble with all those optional extras being loaded on to the bill.

The Economist

It is hard to quibble with MSCI's logic: that after September 1st, Malaysia's openness as a market will be comparable to other countries', such as India.That is hardly a ringing endorsement.

The Economist

Certainly, there are things to quibble about in the proposed legislation.

The Economist

But that is a small quibble about an elegant and fair primer on a contentious issue.

The Economist

And while Mr Hubbard argues that "the role of a business school is to advance the transformative role of business in society", many transformative business leaders the founders of Microsoft, Google and Dell for example—might quibble with the notion that an MBA is essential to success.A question of timingFortunes are made by those who anticipate when the stockmarket is about to turn.

The Economist

America would help with "technical, logistical, human and financial assistance".Few would quibble with America holding trials for those accused of war crimes against its troops false surrenders, for example, or the parading of American prisoners before television cameras.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quibble" when you want to express that someone is arguing about very small, unimportant details rather than focusing on the main point.

Common error

Avoid using "quibble" excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more neutral terms like "dispute" or "question" to maintain a professional tone, unless you specifically want to emphasize the triviality of the argument.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "quibble" is to act as a verb describing the act of arguing or raising petty objections. It can also function as a noun, denoting a minor complaint or objection. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "quibble" is a versatile term that can function as both a verb and a noun, referring to minor disagreements or objections. Ludwig AI indicates that its grammatical status is correct, and it is commonly found in news and media sources, as well as formal business contexts. While alternatives such as "nitpick" and "cavil" exist, "quibble" offers a neutral tone suitable for various writing styles. When using "quibble", it's important to consider the context and avoid overuse in highly formal or academic writing, where more neutral terms like "dispute" may be preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nitpick

Focuses on finding minor faults or errors, often to an excessive degree.

cavil

Suggests raising petty or frivolous objections.

debate minutiae

Discussing small or trivial details.

split hairs

Implies making excessively fine distinctions or arguments about trivial matters.

find fault

To discover things that are not right or are not as good as they should be.

raise objections

A more general way of expressing disagreement or disapproval.

haggle

Implies bargaining or arguing over the terms of an agreement, often regarding price.

object

A straightforward expression of opposition or disagreement.

complain

Expressing dissatisfaction or discontent, often in a general way.

argue

Suggests a more substantial disagreement or debate.

FAQs

How to use "quibble" in a sentence?

You can use "quibble" as a verb, meaning to argue about trivial matters, or as a noun, referring to a minor objection. For example: "They "quibbled" over the wording of the contract." or "His only "quibble" was the color of the font."

What can I say instead of "quibble"?

You can use alternatives like "nitpick", "cavil", or "split hairs" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the word "quibble"?

"Quibble" is appropriate when describing a minor disagreement or objection, often implying that the point is trivial or insignificant. It suggests a focus on small details rather than the larger issue.

Is "quibble" a formal or informal word?

"Quibble" is generally considered a neutral word, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, more neutral alternatives like "object" or "dispute" may be preferred.