Is there an academic word that means "to split hairs over"?
I think
pedantry
would fit,
adjective: to be pedantic
overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, especially in teaching.
I found a possible answer:
Cavil
to raise trivial and frivolous objection
The author caviled about the design of the book's cover.
I would probably go with quibble. You could equally use fault-finding.
Carping is another option, but that's nearly as informal as 'nit-picking', so I doubt you'll like it.