What is quibbling?

"Quibbling" is a word that describes the act of arguing about unimportant details or making petty objections. It's often used in a negative way to suggest that someone is being unreasonable, nitpicky, or trying to avoid the main point of a discussion.

Here are some ways quibbling might manifest:

* Focusing on minor discrepancies: Instead of addressing the core issue, the person fixates on small, irrelevant details.

* Using technicalities to avoid responsibility: They might use legal jargon or obscure rules to deflect criticism or avoid taking action.

* Being overly critical of wording: They might focus on the specific wording of a statement rather than the overall meaning.

* Finding fault for the sake of finding fault: They might nitpick everything, even if it doesn't actually matter.

Examples of quibbling:

* "You said we'd meet at 7:00, but it's 7:05 now! What are you trying to do, leave me waiting?" This is quibbling because it focuses on a minor time difference, not the underlying issue of being late.

* "The contract says 'delivery within 7 business days,' but it doesn't specify what those business days are!" This is quibbling because it uses a technicality to avoid addressing the delay in delivery.

In short, quibbling is a form of arguing that is more about being difficult than being constructive. It often creates conflict and hinders progress.