Editors are known to be pernickety about grammar.

Option C is the correct answer.

Pernickety means to place too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy. The word nearest in meaning to this would be option C, Fussy, meaning being overly picky or meticulous about things.

Option A: Spiteful means showing malice or ill-will, which is unrelated to being meticulous.

Option B: This doesn't capture the specific meaning of being overly concerned with trivial details like "pernickety" does.

Option D: This means lacking knowledge or awareness, which is the opposite of being meticulous or particular.