[Grammar] nitpick

[Kotfor]

With what prepositions can "nitpick" be used as a verb?

1) He likes to nitpick at me.
2) He likes to nitpick on me.
3) He likes to nitpick me.

 

[bhaisahab]

With what prepositions can "nitpick" be used as a verb?

1) He likes to nitpick at me.
2) He likes to nitpick on me.
3) He likes to nitpick me.

What are you trying to say with "nitpick"?

 

[Kotfor]

to criticize by focusing on inconsequential details.

 

[bhaisahab]

They are all unnatural. You could say "He nitpicks all the time".

 

[Kotfor]

They are all unnatural. You could say "He nitpicks all the time".

What if a speaker needs to mention the addressee of the nitpicking how the speaker is supposed to do that? He nitpicks all the time. doesn't mention it.

 

[bhaisahab]

What if a speaker needs to mention the addressee of the nitpicking how the speaker is supposed to do that? He nitpicks all the time. doesn't mention it.

"He nitpicks about everything I say."

 

[SoothingDave]

I don't have a problem with "he nitpicks me."

 

[Barb_D]

For me, it's more natural to use a direct object, but not a person as that object.

He nitpicks everything I say.
He nitpicks everything I write.

This is likely one of those words that gets used differently and since it's a rather informal word, I couldn't say that I find either bhai's use or Dave's use "wrong."

 

[MikeNewYork]

I am more familiar with the intransitive use "nitpick". I would go with bhai's use.

 

[Tdol]

I'd mostly use it intransitively or like Barb, though He nitpicks me makes perfect sense. Maybe it's time to start using it.