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While we're at it, literally doesn't belong on it. Literally has exactly one meaning. Unsurprisingly, the wrong meaning is the opposite of the right one. Still

While we're at it, literally doesn't belong on it. Literally has exactly one meaning. Unsurprisingly, the wrong meaning is the opposite of the right one. Still think this list would help every struggling learner of English.

adrianmonk 7y ago
Unfortunately, "literally" has acquired the non-literal meaning because people use it as an intensifier: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-lite... Include me among those who find it frustrating, but the meanings of words are more or less acquired by convention, and I think my side has been outvoted on this one.
- marzell 7y ago
  I remember trying to explain this to a friend once, but was having a 'senior moment' and couldn't remember the word 'figuratively' to explain what 'literally' should have been in the context. Now it is used as an intensifier, but it seems to be 'sarcastic' when used in that way... there's some understanding that exaggeration is being used, and that the use of the word 'literal' isn't entirely correct.
  - adrianmonk 7y ago
    It might be more precise to call it hyperbole than sarcasm. But either is pretty reasonable. Both are rhetorical devices that hinge on creating an effect by intentionally using a word differently than its normal, plain meaning. Incidentally, I think one reason people get irritated by this is that some people prefer communication to be direct, unambiguous, and straightforward without relying on a lot of subtlety, context, guessing, or interpretation. I'd bet that programmers and other technically-minded people lean this direction more. So when people complain that this sort of thing is a violation of the rules, I think on some level they know that's not true, so I'm inclined to interpret it more like a plea or protest to avoid this style of indirect communication.
taco_emoji 7y ago
The "figuratively" sense is just bog-standard hyperbole. Do you also object to "killed" in the sense of a stand-up comedian getting a lot of laughter during their act? Or "I just died of embarrassment!"?
- marzell 7y ago
  It's not hyperbole. When you say something was "so funny I died", that's exactly what 'figurative' means. I don't object to the use of the facetious/sarcastic/exaggerating use of 'literally', but when used in that way, people are literally (sorry!) being figurative. I think the problem arises when something in speech starts out being sarcastic or out of proportion consciously, but gets used so much that people forget this and start changing the actual meaning of the words being used. I think it often comes about because terms and phrases get re-used by people who don't actually understand them... like a small child repeating a pun or quip they've heard an adult use, but don't really understand, and then they grow up using some part of speech incorrectly.
crazygringo 7y ago
You're literally wrong. :) Literally has two meanings in the dictionary, one of which is your "wrong" one: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally You may be interested in linguistic descriptivism, as opposed to linguistic prescriptivism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_description https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_description
- Doxin 7y ago
  That kinda depends on how you define things though. literally in the sense of something that actually happened is clearly the meaning of the word. You can then debate on whether literally as in figuratively would be a separate meaning for the same word, or just hyperbole.
- MagnumOpus 7y ago
  However, he may not be interested in talking to (or hiring) people who misuse a word and claim that the correct use is a matter of perspective. We can be descriptive in saying that people use "literally" when they don't mean "literally" - we can also be descriptive when we label such people as ignorant of the meaning of the words they use.
  - taco_emoji 7y ago
    That's not descriptive, that's presumptuous and elitist. How do you know they're ignorant? Maybe they know perfectly well what the word means and are using it for humorous effect, or as an extreme intensifier.
    - jpttsn 7y ago
      No, you misunderstand: ignorant has a second meaning, which is “smart”.
  - gattilorenz 7y ago
    > he may not be interested in talking to (or hiring) people who misuse a word and claim that the correct use is a matter of perspective. Because that would be the worst. No one ever says something while meaning something else. When, while sitting at the table, people ask me if I can pass them the water, I check if I can reach the bottle, I check if I'm close enough to them, then I say "yes, I can" and keep eating.
air7 7y ago
This literally happens a lot. See "How far back in time could you go and still understand English?" [0] [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fxy6ZaMOq8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fxy6ZaMOq8

adrianmonk 7y ago

Unfortunately, "literally" has acquired the non-literal meaning because people use it as an intensifier: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-lite... Include me among those who find it frustrating, but the meanings of words are more or less acquired by convention, and I think my side has been outvoted on this one.

marzell 7y ago
I remember trying to explain this to a friend once, but was having a 'senior moment' and couldn't remember the word 'figuratively' to explain what 'literally' should have been in the context. Now it is used as an intensifier, but it seems to be 'sarcastic' when used in that way... there's some understanding that exaggeration is being used, and that the use of the word 'literal' isn't entirely correct.
- adrianmonk 7y ago
  It might be more precise to call it hyperbole than sarcasm. But either is pretty reasonable. Both are rhetorical devices that hinge on creating an effect by intentionally using a word differently than its normal, plain meaning. Incidentally, I think one reason people get irritated by this is that some people prefer communication to be direct, unambiguous, and straightforward without relying on a lot of subtlety, context, guessing, or interpretation. I'd bet that programmers and other technically-minded people lean this direction more. So when people complain that this sort of thing is a violation of the rules, I think on some level they know that's not true, so I'm inclined to interpret it more like a plea or protest to avoid this style of indirect communication.

taco_emoji 7y ago

The "figuratively" sense is just bog-standard hyperbole. Do you also object to "killed" in the sense of a stand-up comedian getting a lot of laughter during their act? Or "I just died of embarrassment!"?

marzell 7y ago
It's not hyperbole. When you say something was "so funny I died", that's exactly what 'figurative' means. I don't object to the use of the facetious/sarcastic/exaggerating use of 'literally', but when used in that way, people are literally (sorry!) being figurative. I think the problem arises when something in speech starts out being sarcastic or out of proportion consciously, but gets used so much that people forget this and start changing the actual meaning of the words being used. I think it often comes about because terms and phrases get re-used by people who don't actually understand them... like a small child repeating a pun or quip they've heard an adult use, but don't really understand, and then they grow up using some part of speech incorrectly.

crazygringo 7y ago

You're literally wrong. :) Literally has two meanings in the dictionary, one of which is your "wrong" one: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally You may be interested in linguistic descriptivism, as opposed to linguistic prescriptivism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_description https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_description

Doxin 7y ago
That kinda depends on how you define things though. literally in the sense of something that actually happened is clearly the meaning of the word. You can then debate on whether literally as in figuratively would be a separate meaning for the same word, or just hyperbole.
MagnumOpus 7y ago
However, he may not be interested in talking to (or hiring) people who misuse a word and claim that the correct use is a matter of perspective. We can be descriptive in saying that people use "literally" when they don't mean "literally" - we can also be descriptive when we label such people as ignorant of the meaning of the words they use.
- taco_emoji 7y ago
  That's not descriptive, that's presumptuous and elitist. How do you know they're ignorant? Maybe they know perfectly well what the word means and are using it for humorous effect, or as an extreme intensifier.
  - jpttsn 7y ago
    No, you misunderstand: ignorant has a second meaning, which is “smart”.
- gattilorenz 7y ago
  > he may not be interested in talking to (or hiring) people who misuse a word and claim that the correct use is a matter of perspective. Because that would be the worst. No one ever says something while meaning something else. When, while sitting at the table, people ask me if I can pass them the water, I check if I can reach the bottle, I check if I'm close enough to them, then I say "yes, I can" and keep eating.

air7 7y ago

This literally happens a lot. See "How far back in time could you go and still understand English?" [0] [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fxy6ZaMOq8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fxy6ZaMOq8