Literally

[Crono]

...doesn't quite mean what it used to.

It seems over the past few years the word "literally" has come to mean - in common usage, at least - "really".

Anyone else notice people using the word incorrectly recently? It almost seems to be worse over the past couple of months, or maybe I'm just noticing it more.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

litterally?

 

[LookBehindYou]

really?

 

[coxmaster]

I literally see this, literally every day

 

[Schfifty Five]

...doesn't quite mean what it used to.

It seems over the past few years the word "literally" has come to mean - in common usage, at least - "really".

Anyone else notice people using the word incorrectly recently? It almost seems to be worse over the past couple of months, or maybe I'm just noticing it more.

It's one of my pet peeves when people use the word "literally" incorrectly. Well, not a major pet peeve, but just an annoyance I see quite often.

I think people tend to use that word as if to give emphasis on something.

Example: The words literally jumped off the page when I read it.

They are probably suggesting that it was just a really exciting part to read or something.

But yeah, ppl are dumb.

 

[shortylickens]

People suck.
In addition, they are fucking stupid.
Also lazy.

Wait, what was the question?

 

[Krynj]

People suck.
In addition, they are fucking stupid.
Also lazy.

Literally.

 

[chalmers]

Unless you use every word in the English language as it was originally meant, I can't understand why you'd complain about this. I'm sure you don't use every word perfect either.

 

[rcpratt]

I literally had a conversation about literally the exact same topic with a girl at work today. Whereupon I literally showed her a YouTube video of the Parks and Rec guy saying "literally" in literally every sentence.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Yeah, I have to admit this is becoming a peeve of mine as well, it has gotten to the point where I literally bite the head off of any such offender.

 

[Gibsons]

Unless you use every word in the English language as it was originally meant, I can't understand why you'd complain about this. I'm sure you don't use every word perfect either.

The problem is that "literally" is a perfectly cromulent word. With poor usage weakening, or even destroying, its meaning, we'll need to find another word to convey that meaning.

 

[ShawnD1]

I literally had a conversation about literally the exact same topic with a girl at work today. Whereupon I literally showed her a YouTube video of the Parks and Rec guy saying "literally" in literally every sentence.

I would literally flip my shit if I had to experience that.

 

[wheresmybacon]

No one can speak and fewer can write. The real meaning of the word "literally" has been irrecoverably damaged. We need a new word to mean what literally used to mean. Thanks morans.

 

[Kadarin]

really?

Seriously?

 

[KeithTalent]

Holy crap I was literally going to make a thread about this yesterday. Seriously. Drives me nuts how idiots use the word now: "my arm literally fell off after having to carry those bags for so long" when I can see their arm still attached to their body right in front of me.

KT

 

[BoomerD]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/literally

lit·er·al·ly
   [lit-er-uh-lee]
–adverb
1.
in the literal or strict sense: What does the word mean literally?
2.
in a literal manner; word for word: to translate literally.
3.
actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy: The city was literally destroyed.
4.
in effect; in substance; very nearly; virtually.

Origin:
1525–35; literal + -ly

—Can be confused:  figuratively, literally, virtually (see usage note at the current entry ).

—Usage note
Since the early 20th century, literally has been widely used as an intensifier meaning “in effect, virtually,” a sense that contradicts the earlier meaning “actually, without exaggeration”: The senator was literally buried alive in the Iowa primaries. The parties were literally trading horses in an effort to reach a compromise. The use is often criticized; nevertheless, it appears in all but the most carefully edited writing. Although this use of literally irritates some, it probably neither distorts nor enhances the intended meaning of the sentences in which it occurs. The same might often be said of the use of literally in its earlier sense “actually”: The garrison was literally wiped out: no one survived.

 

[MotF Bane]

Literally, you're being really literal about literally.

 

[Printer Bandit]

literarily.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Irregardless....


Wait. Wrong thread.

 

[nageov3t]

 

[bignateyk]

I literally just shit my pants while reading this thread. :'(