'literally'

[artsandletters]

Kids found a new word and they're beating it to death. Too bad they use it improperly most of the time. I had to ask directions to a hotel the other day and they driver-age teen told me the hotel was literally at the bottom of the hill we were facing. He was wrong. The hotel is about a quarter of a mile beyond the bottom of the hill. Nitpicking? He could have told me that the hotel is at the bottom of the hill, but no. He had to throw in 'literally'.

Literally this, literally that. Wait until they get ahold of 'figuratively' -- chaos.

Anyone else notice this use of 'literally' gone wild?

 

[Lionguy32]

Not just kids. Many adults literally don't know the proper use of the word.

 

[LionDeNittany]

Not just kids. Many adults literally don't know the proper use of the word.

Is there a proper use of the word? I don't feel it has much use in proper speech. It seems to be a polite swear word the way it is used.

LdN

 

[Art]

Are they finished beating "awesome" and "amazing" to death? Hoping that "embrace" is close to the end, too.

 

[CF LION]

The use of that word is literally out of control.

 

[Woodpecker]

Mad TV

There are many others that they did

 

[artsandletters]

Are they finished beating "awesome" and "amazing" to death? Hoping that "embrace" is close to the end, too.

The current, liberal swath of the word 'epic' is news to Anonymous, the author of the epically boring 'Beowulf'.

 

[Lionguy32]

Is there a proper use of the word? I don't feel it has much use in proper speech. It seems to be a polite swear word the way it is used.

LdN

Unless you are discussing a bomb, saying "it will literally make your head explode" would not be a proper use of the word.

 

[artsandletters]

Are they finished beating "awesome" and "amazing" to death? Hoping that "embrace" is close to the end, too.

'Arguably' kicked in about thirty years ago, making every talking head sound so careful.

 

[BOSCO2]

I'd be happy if people would use the words "there", "their" and "they're" properly in there posts.

 

[artsandletters]

Unless your are discussing a bomb, saying "it will literally make your head explode" would not be a proper use of the word.

Right. In that case you are removing any question of doubt.

 

[psuro]

Kids found a new and they're beating it to death. Too bad they use it improperly most of the time. I had to ask directions to a hotel the other day and they driver-age teen told me the hotel was literally at the bottom of the hill we were facing. He was wrong. The hotel is about a quarter of a mile beyond the bottom of the hill. Nitpicking? He could have told me that the hotel is at the bottom of the hill, but no. He had to throw in 'literally'.

Literally this, literally that. Wait until they get ahold of 'figuratively' -- chaos.

Anyone else notice this use of 'literally' gone wild?

My feelings are the same about the word "totally".

Adults use it as improperly as teenagers.

 

[Art]

'Arguably' kicked in about thirty years ago, making every talking head sound so careful.

Someone once used "awesome" to describe something that was just north of mundane. I asked the person if he was "in awe" of the subject. Blank stare (big surprise, there). I then asked if he knew what "awe" meant. Detected anger beginning to set in and decided to drop it.

 

[wex18]

Most overused word recently by TV newscasters: Iconic
They also don't know the difference between "currently" and "presently"

 

[Art]

My feelings are the same about the word "totally".

Adults use it as improperly as teenagers.

Of course they do, along with Lord-knows how many other words. That's because they want to be perceived as "with it" (is that phrase still in use?).

 

[psuro]

Of course they do, along with Lord-knows how many other words. That's because they want to be perceived as "with it" (is that phrase still in use?).

Or, they are just not bright.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

An epic thread about this boring topic would be literally trite.

Or, should that be ...

Literally, this epic thread about a boring topic is trite.

WTF really cares?

 

[psuro]

An epic thread about this boring topic would be literally trite,.

Totally.

 

[CF LION]

Someone once used "awesome" to describe something that was just north of mundane. I asked the person if he was "in awe" of the subject. Blank stare (big surprise, there). I then asked if he knew what "awe" meant. Detected anger beginning to set in and decided to drop it.

"Awe" most likely means "isn't that cute?" to the person you mention, as in when one sees a puppy dog or baby and utters "awwwwe".

 

[LionDeNittany]

"Awe" most likely means "isn't that cute?" to the person you mention, as in when one sees a puppy dog or baby and utters "awwwwe".

There's a thread on this... put your comments outside the quote box

 

[gregoryj95]

I'd be happy if people would use the words "there", "their" and "they're" properly in there posts.

I am literally dying to know whether you did that on purpose or not. It would be totally awesome if it was accidental.

 

[massimoManca II]

I'd be happy if people would use the words "there", "their" and "they're" properly in there posts.

Put that on the shelf of shame, you know, right next to "Then" vs "Than"....

Likewise, i've made it no secret that broadcasters should know that randomly lobbing the term "prototype" or "prototypical" will not make one appear smarter when it is mis-used (which is 94% of the time) ...

 

[We Are . . .]

I'd be happy if people would use the words "there", "their" and "they're" properly in there posts.

They're you go again!

 

[Victor E. Bell]

When I started reading this thread I was literally dying laughi..

 

[Langmuir]

2011 called. They literally want their complaint back about misuse of a word.

http://archive.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2011/07/19/literally_the_most_misused_word/

 

[Victor E. Bell]

People simply parrot what they hear with no effort to understand what's being said. A friend of mine was telling me he was at a bar having a sip when this loudmouth was going on about some acquaintance of his being "awarded the state." He was in bad health or unable to care for himself, I don't know exactly. My buddy said "You mean a ward of the state?" He said "Yeah, yeah he was awarded the state." I literally had tears in my eyes laughing.

 

[artsandletters]

People simply parrot what they hear with no effort to understand what's being said. A friend of mine was telling me he was at a bar having a sip when this loudmouth was going on about some acquaintance of his being "awarded the state." He was in bad health or unable to care for himself, I don't know exactly. My buddy said "You mean a ward of the state?" He said "Yeah, yeah he was awarded the state." I literally had tears in my eyes laughing.

It's snowing here and the young, local, on the scene reporter said "You can't see the visibility."

 

[UncleRoyBiggins]

The word Yummy drives me crazy. How do you describe Yummy? What does Yummy taste like? What does yummy look like? Just watch the Food Network sometime, and count how many times somebody uses the word Yummy.
On second thought, looking at PSURO's sig pics....I'm starting to understand.

 

[artsandletters]

People simply parrot what they hear with no effort to understand what's being said. A friend of mine was telling me he was at a bar having a sip when this loudmouth was going on about some acquaintance of his being "awarded the state." He was in bad health or unable to care for himself, I don't know exactly. My buddy said "You mean a ward of the state?" He said "Yeah, yeah he was awarded the state." I literally had tears in my eyes laughing.

Then there's the old reliable 'statue of limitations'.

 

[artsandletters]

The word Yummy drives me crazy. How do you describe Yummy? What does Yummy taste like? What does yummy look like? Just watch the Food Network sometime, and count how many times somebody uses the word Yummy.
On second thought, looking at PSURO's sig pics....I'm starting to understand.

Gotcha has replaced I understand.

 

[Blueblood4eva]

"OUTSTANDIN" thread!

 

[NewEra 2014]

I would be pleased if people were able to stop spelling the word "loose" when they mean "lose". It makes them sound like a looser.

 

[Fairfax Lion]

Saw what you did their, Bosco!

But I "couldn't care less!"

 

[Elwood Blues]

Most overused word recently by TV newscasters: Iconic
They also don't know the difference between "currently" and "presently"

Yes! And it's almost always misused. "Isn't it ironic that we ran into each other at Starbucks?" NO! It's coincidence. Related note - funny that that 90's song, "Isn't it Ironic," misuses the word over and over and over. A "black fly in your chardonnay" is not ironic - it's just a bummer.

 

[BoulderFish]

"I have a theory!"

No you don't. You have a hypothesis.

"A little factoid is that BWI stands for 'Blue White Illustrated.'"

No, that is the opposite of a factoid.

 

[BoulderFish]

Yes! And it's almost always misused. "Isn't it ironic that we ran into each other at Starbucks?" NO! It's coincidence. Related note - funny that that 90's song, "Isn't it Ironic," misuses the word over and over and over. A "black fly in your chardonnay" is not ironic - it's just a bummer.

Lol

An otherwise catchy tune, that song annoyed the sh*t out of me for its complete misuse of the word 'ironic.'

 

[BOSCO2]

I am literally dying to know whether you did that on purpose or not. It would be totally awesome if it was accidental.

Glad someone noticed that. Believe me, it was totally intentional.

 

[BOSCO2]

Got another one. Is "resiliency" an actual word? Doesn't the word "resilience" suffice? To me, it's the same as saying something like "honestyness" instead of "honesty". I don't know.

 

[Plan Ahaed]

They literally changed the definition of the word to include the way it is used in everyday conversation.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally
: in effect : virtually —used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible <will literally turn the world upside down to combat cruelty or injustice — Norman Cousins>

 

[pandaczar12]

I'd be happy if people would use the words "there", "their" and "they're" properly in there posts.

Your rite about that won!