quite picky

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite picky" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that is especially choosy. For example: "My uncle is quite picky when it comes to food; he won't even try anything new."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

In any case, I am quite picky.

The Guardian

"Asian buyers are quite picky about clarity and prefer the highest clarity," he said.

The New York Times

I'm quite picky about who I follow – I only follow people who have a very good eye.

The Guardian

Jami Morse-Heidegger, the chief executive of Kiehl's, said: "Lately, they are becoming quite picky and choosy about donations.

The New York Times - Style

"I'm quite picky about my deserts, I like fresh and fragrant things, but everything you normally get at Christmas is heavy as hell.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Life is quite picky about which chemicals it utilises; therefore, if life were present on the comet, this would recognisably boost a number of key molecules.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

(Some might disagree that Pixar has been quite so picky about its sequel choices – "Cars 2" was a rare misfire with critics, and the studio now has "Cars 3" due in 2017 and "Toy Story 4" set for 2018).

Los Angeles Times

I'm actually quite a picky eater in everyday life; there's a good chance you couldn't get me to eat stir-fried bat without a gun to my head and even then, it'd be a challenge.

Vice

The mouse portion is quite good; I'm very picky when it comes to mouse shapes (I use a Logitech G500s… since you asked) and found the Lexip perfectly comfortable, if slightly small.

TechCrunch

However, both AUTOPSY and PICKY have a quite high false positive rate.

Bioinformatics

The idea is actually quite compelling for those of us who are picky about their knitwear.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "quite picky", provide specific examples of their preferences to illustrate the extent of their choosiness. This adds clarity and credibility to your description.

Common error

Avoid using "quite picky" as a vague descriptor. Instead of simply stating that someone is "quite picky", specify what they are picky about. For instance, "He's quite picky about his coffee, insisting on a specific roast and brewing method."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite picky" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a significant degree of choosiness or selectivity. It adds detail about the quality or characteristic of the noun it modifies, as seen in Ludwig's examples where it describes people's preferences or behaviors.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "quite picky" effectively conveys a noticeable degree of choosiness or selectivity. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It functions as an adjectival phrase, adding detail to descriptions, and appears most frequently in news and media, with a neutral to informal register. When employing "quite picky", be specific about what is being chosen to enhance clarity. Although acceptable for general use, formal contexts may benefit from terms like "highly selective". Ludwig's analysis, alongside real-world examples, illuminates how this phrase functions across diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very selective

Replaces "quite" with "very", emphasizing the degree of selectivity.

extremely selective

Similar to "very selective" but with a stronger emphasis using "extremely".

rather particular

Substitutes "picky" with "particular" to indicate attention to detail and personal preference.

highly discriminating

Uses a more formal term, "discriminating", to suggest refined taste or judgment.

exceedingly choosy

Emphasizes the act of choosing with "choosy" and amplifies it with "exceedingly".

remarkably choosy

Emphasizes the degree of being choosy with "remarkably".

decidedly fussy

Replaces "picky" with "fussy", highlighting a tendency to be overly concerned with minor details.

awfully discerning

Uses "discerning" to suggest a keen ability to distinguish between qualities, implying pickiness.

somewhat fastidious

Uses "fastidious" to convey a strong concern for cleanliness and order, implying pickiness.

not easily pleased

Focuses on the difficulty in satisfying someone, indicating high standards.

FAQs

How can I use "quite picky" in a sentence?

You can use "quite picky" to describe someone or something that is very selective or choosy. For example, "She is "quite picky" about the clothes she wears."

What's a less common synonym for "quite picky"?

A less common synonym for "quite picky" is "fastidious". However, fastidious carries a stronger connotation of being excessively attentive to detail.

Is it better to say "very picky" or "quite picky"?

Both "very picky" and "quite picky" are grammatically correct and widely understood. The choice depends on the desired nuance, with "very" perhaps suggesting a slightly stronger degree of pickiness.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "quite picky"?

It's appropriate to use "quite picky" in informal and neutral contexts when describing someone's preferences or selection criteria. Avoid using it in highly formal or technical writing; instead, consider more precise terms like "highly selective".