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Idiom: "I's" dotted, "t's" crossed?

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Forums _· General English Grammar & Vocabulary, Listening & Speaking _· General English Vocabulary & Idiom Questions

JCDenton:

Hi guys,

Please, does anyone know the origin of the idiom "dot the i's and cross the t's"? This is very strange looking idiom and I have absolutely no idea why it means do something very carefully and in a lot of
detail...Please, what that acronyms I's and T's stands for? Does anyone know it? Answers.com page is just saying that this idiom presumably began as an admonition to schoolchildren to write carefully and is sometimes shortened. I came across to this idiom in an Without a Trace TV show, where this idiom was used by one member of the missing person squad.

Boss of the FBI bureau: Any...procedural irregularities that would adversely affect the prosecution of the suspects.

FBI employe: Well, you know me boss. "I's" dotted, "t's" crossed. It's all in my report.

many thanks in advance guys.

Best Regards

JCD

Regular Member780

Approved answer (verified by Philip)

BarbaraPA:

When you are writing in longhand, in "script" or "cursive" you keep writing letters and don't stop to dot the i's or the j's, or cross the t's. You go back and do that after you write the entire word. Sometimes, you write so fast that you forget to go back and do that. If you have made sure that all the i's are dotted and all the t's are crossed, you have performed your task carefully and made sure you did not miss anything.

It is almost never used as an actualy admonition to school children. It's used instead as a metaphor to mean that you did absolutely everything that is supposed to be done, usually as it relates to following a specific procedure.

A similar metaphor: I made sure nothing is going to fall through the cracks.

Veteran Member26,552

ALL REPLIES

JCDenton:

hmm...very interesting. Thanks GG for very clear answer.

have a nice day.

Best Regards

JCD

Anonymous:

i's and t's are not acronums. They are the plural form of the letters i and t. The reference about school children refers to writing in a hurry and forgetting to put a dot over the letter i and to remember to cross the t. It admonishes against carlessness and the reminder that seemingly small details can be important.

Anonymous:

I think the etymology of the idiom - dot your i's and cross your t's -- is actually Biblical or otherwise originated as a religious reference of some kind. I remember my late father-in-law, a Methodist preacher in Virginia, describing the origin of the idiom in those terms, but unfortunately don't remember the details. Have been trying to find the answer on-line without success, but will keep trying (as well as check with mother-in-law) and will report back.

RAD

Anonymous:

Very nice & absolutely correct answer. I read this idiom 1st time in my ITIL book & referred net. & I am thankful u resolved it in 30 seconds.
Thanks again.

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Idiom: "I's" dotted, "t's" crossed?

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