Master English one word at a time. World of Words provides a daily English word with its precise meaning, pronunciation, and practical usage examples to help you build a powerful vocabulary.
A punctilio is a detail or subtle distinction that may seem minor but still merits attention. The word is often associated with etiquette and other protocols where precision matters — or at least, it's seen as mattering by an in-group. Whether a punctilio deserves attention can depend on who's doing the noticing.
Example: He observed every punctilio of royal court etiquette during his meeting with the queen.
To redress is to set something right after it has gone wrong. You're more likely to come across the word in legal documents or other formal contexts, but the idea is familiar to anyone who's tried to make amends. If a major mistake is made, truly redressing the error may require more than a simple apology.
Example: The company offered a full refund to redress the customer's complaint about the broken product.
These famous writers were responsible for coining many interesting words in the English language. Find out which writers' vocabulary found a permanent home in the dictionary.
