To The Letter

B2 8+

Pronunciation: /tuː ðə ˈlɛtər/

Definitions of to the letter

noun a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

Example Sentences

A1 She followed the recipe to the letter and the cake turned out perfectly.

A2 The instructions for assembling the furniture must be followed to the letter.

B1 The contract stipulates that all terms must be adhered to the letter.

B2 The detective examined the crime scene to the letter, looking for any clues.

C1 The lawyer argued the case to the letter, leaving no room for doubt.

C2 The architect designed the building to the letter, ensuring every detail was perfect.

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

Example Sentences

A1 She followed the recipe to the letter when baking the cake.

A2 The teacher expects the students to follow the instructions to the letter.

B1 It is important to adhere to the rules of the company to the letter.

B2 The contract must be signed and executed to the letter to avoid any legal issues.

C1 The architect designed the building to the letter, ensuring every detail was perfect.

C2 The chef prepared the dish to the letter, creating a masterpiece of flavors and presentation.

article a word that is used with a noun to show whether the thing or person being referred to is known about, has been mentioned before, is being introduced for the first time, or is general

Example Sentences

A1 She followed the recipe to the letter and the cake turned out perfectly.

A2 He always follows the rules to the letter, even when it's not necessary.

B1 The contract must be adhered to the letter in order to avoid any legal issues.

B2 The architect followed the blueprints to the letter, ensuring the building was constructed correctly.

C1 The author's instructions were followed to the letter by the editor, resulting in a flawless final manuscript.

C2 The conductor expected the musicians to follow his directions to the letter during the performance.

Examples of to the letter in a Sentence

formal The architect followed the blueprint to the letter to ensure the building was constructed correctly.

informal I followed the recipe to the letter and the cake turned out perfectly!

slang She copied her friend's style to the letter, even down to the same accessories.

figurative The detective followed the suspect's alibi to the letter, but something still didn't add up.

Grammatical Forms of to the letter

past tense

followed

plural

to the letters

comparative

more to the letter

superlative

most to the letter

present tense

follow

future tense

will follow to the letter

perfect tense

have followed to the letter

continuous tense

is following to the letter

singular

to the letter

positive degree

exact

infinitive

to follow to the letter

gerund

following to the letter

participle

followed to the letter

Origin and Evolution of to the letter

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The phrase 'to the letter' originated from Latin origins, specifically from the Latin phrase 'ad litteram' which means 'to the literal sense'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'to the letter' has evolved to mean following instructions or rules precisely and accurately, without any deviation.