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> the word literally has evolved, badly How do you feel about the words "really" and "very"? I never really understood this fad of harping on the metaphorical
by fknorangesite 5y ago
> the word literally has evolved, badly
How do you feel about the words "really" and "very"?
I never really understood this fad of harping on the metaphorical usage of "literally" - it's hardly a new development:
> The use of literally in a fashion that is hyperbolic or metaphoric is not new—evidence of this use dates back to 1769.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-lite...
- nerdponx 5y agoWhat's different about "literally" is that people mostly do know what it means, and it's more of a rhetorical device or figure of speech than a simple mistake. As the article you quoted says, it's "hyperbolic" and "metaphorical", not solecistic.