Which word best describes a person who is overly focused on formal rules or minute details?

• A. Pragmatic
• B. Esoteric
• C. Pedantic
• D. Corroborate

Answer: (C)

Pedantry describes a tendency to be overly focused on formal rules and minute details. The word pedantic, used to describe a person, fits best here because it specifically signals that kind of meticulous, rules-and-details obsession in behavior or attitude. A pedantic person may fuss over exact punctuation, precise formatting, and every little point of accuracy, sometimes at the expense of broader understanding or practicality.

Pragmatic, by contrast, emphasizes practicality and workable solutions rather than strict adherence to rules or minutiae. Esoteric refers to information that’s obscure or understood only by a select group, which isn’t the same thing as being obsessive about rules. Corroborate is a verb meaning to confirm or support something, and it doesn’t describe a person at all.