die Wortklauberei noun: quibbling (over words), hair-splitting, nitpicking
This (pejorative) colloquialism is used to refer to the pedantically narrow interpretation of words/wording and the exaggerated adherence to the literal meaning of something that was said or written.
Synonyms: Klügelei; Kasuistik [academic]; Pingeligkeit [colloquial]; Haarspalterei [pejorative]
Für Wortklauberei habe ich absolut kein Verständnis! = I am completely unsympathetic to quibbling over words!
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