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Are you sure you're being LITERAL? I certainly remember some google acquisitions where it was stated straight up that the product would be discontinued in the i

by rapind 14y ago

Are you sure you're being LITERAL? I certainly remember some google acquisitions where it was stated straight up that the product would be discontinued in the initial press release. http://xkcd.com/725/ http://xkcd.com/725/

pifflesnort 14y ago
I would like to introduce you to my friend, rhetorical hyperbole: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole It's not actually the case that every single acquisition in the world involves public platitudes about the continuance of management, the product, culture, office location, or lunch room perks. Just a literally a metric ton of them.
- anonymous 14y ago
  Here's my chief gripe with using hyperbole and "literally" - If the word "literally" can be used non-literally, in a hyperbole or a metaphor, then it stops serving its purpose of marking a sentence as being literal. Then, when a sentence permits metaphoric and literal interpretations and you stick "literally" in it, nothing changes - it can still be either metaphoric or literal. The only solution I see is using "really literally" to mean that your sentence isn't metaphoric. Until people start using "really literally" in a metaphoric way. I virtually really literally actually in fact don't want to see that happen. P.S. Use "practically" instead.
  - zzzmarcus 14y ago
    Merriam Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary already accept the use of "literally" to mean "virtually" in informal contexts. It's a losing battle. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/literally http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/literally
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
lifeisstillgood 14y ago
- I'm quite upset about my favourite company being acquired and the risk of losing my app. - hey look, Drew Houston disguised as Woody Allen - what? Really? Or figuratively ? - Both, but I will literally explode if another negative comment gets upvoted ... [Hamlet music plays as man lights cigar (UK only)] Ahhhhh,HN.
ndr 14y ago
I thought I would never have a chance to do this, but ironically: http://xkcd.com/1108/ http://xkcd.com/1108/

by rapind 14y ago

pifflesnort 14y ago

I would like to introduce you to my friend, rhetorical hyperbole: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole It's not actually the case that every single acquisition in the world involves public platitudes about the continuance of management, the product, culture, office location, or lunch room perks. Just a literally a metric ton of them.

anonymous 14y ago
Here's my chief gripe with using hyperbole and "literally" - If the word "literally" can be used non-literally, in a hyperbole or a metaphor, then it stops serving its purpose of marking a sentence as being literal. Then, when a sentence permits metaphoric and literal interpretations and you stick "literally" in it, nothing changes - it can still be either metaphoric or literal. The only solution I see is using "really literally" to mean that your sentence isn't metaphoric. Until people start using "really literally" in a metaphoric way. I virtually really literally actually in fact don't want to see that happen. P.S. Use "practically" instead.
- zzzmarcus 14y ago
  Merriam Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary already accept the use of "literally" to mean "virtually" in informal contexts. It's a losing battle. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/literally http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/literally

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

lifeisstillgood 14y ago

- I'm quite upset about my favourite company being acquired and the risk of losing my app. - hey look, Drew Houston disguised as Woody Allen - what? Really? Or figuratively ? - Both, but I will literally explode if another negative comment gets upvoted ... [Hamlet music plays as man lights cigar (UK only)] Ahhhhh,HN.

ndr 14y ago

I thought I would never have a chance to do this, but ironically: http://xkcd.com/1108/ http://xkcd.com/1108/