Thoroughness means doing something carefully and completely, making sure you don't miss anything important. When you clean your room with thoroughness, you don't just shove things under the bed. You organize your closet, dust the shelves, and check behind the door for stray socks.

A mechanic who works with thoroughness doesn't just fix the obvious problem with your bicycle. She checks the brakes, tests the gears, and makes sure the chain is properly lubricated. A scientist approaches experiments with thoroughness, recording every detail and double-checking measurements. A detective investigates a mystery with thoroughness, following every lead and examining all the evidence.

When you do something thoroughly, you're being thorough. Someone known for their thoroughness has earned a reputation for careful, reliable work. They might take a bit longer to finish, but you can count on them not to overlook important details. A thorough person asks: “What else should I check? Did I consider everything?”

Thoroughness is the quality that separates someone who finishes quickly from someone who finishes well.