Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 3, 2026 is "tittle." Primarily used in British English, a tittle signifies a very small part or amount, often appearing in the phrase "jot or tittle." In both British and American English contexts related to writing and printing, a tittle is also a small dot or mark used as a diacritical accent. For instance, it can refer to the dot above the lowercase "i" or "j." The etymology traces back to the Medieval Latin word "titulus," meaning "title." Historically, "tittle" has also been applied to other small marks in writing, such as tildes. This historical usage contributes to its figurative meaning of a tiny particle or insignificant detail. The phrase "not a jot or tittle" emphasizes the complete absence of something. The word highlights specific components of letters and typography. Other typological terms mentioned include "stroke" for lines forming letters and "counter" for enclosed negative space within letters.