People who don't know the meaning of the word "Literally"

[22*43*51]

"Debbie Wasserman-Shultz has been outdone by Wisconsin Democrat Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who said during a call with reporters Monday that Scott Walker's policies are "tightening the noose, literally, around African Americans."

In other words, Scott Walker is lynching blacks in Wisconsin because he has implemented policies Moore disagrees with."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...the-noose-on-black-people-20150824-story.html

 

[Lone Clone]

"Debbie Wasserman-Shultz has been outdone by Wisconsin Democrat Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who said during a call with reporters Monday that Scott Walker's policies are "tightening the noose, literally, around African Americans."

In other words, Scott Walker is lynching blacks in Wisconsin because he has implemented policies Moore disagrees with."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...the-noose-on-black-people-20150824-story.html

When I was in seventh grade, my teacher "corrected" me on the proper use of "literally." She said it means "not really true" and the way to remember it was to think of "literally, as in literature."

It will be difficult for people who know me from this board to believe, but I kept my mouth shut.

 

[hawkeye54545]

This is, literally, the dumbest thread in history.

You must be new here.

 

[naturalmwa]

Picture this woman speaking 'valley girl' "like literally".

 

[Pinehawk]

This use of 'literally' gets frequently brought up, but the official definition has changed in recent years to also include figuratively. So, actually Debbie Wasserman-Shultz used the term appropriately, and the OP was wrong.

"But people increasingly use “literally” to give extreme emphasis to a statement that cannot be true, as in: “My head literally exploded when I read Merriam-Webster, among others, is now sanctioning the use of literally to mean just the opposite.”

"Indeed, Ragan’s PR Daily reported last week that Webster, Macmillan Dictionary and Google have added this latter informal use of “literally” as part of the word’s official definition. The Cambridge Dictionary has also jumped on board."

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/22/acc...terally_now_also_means_figuratively_newscred/

 

[moral_victory]

 

[TexMichFan]

I do get a chuckle out of the caption on the picture where she calls Walker "a stereotypical politician".

Her idea of helping African Americans is a minimum wage hike, voting without an ID, and getting rid of drug test for welfare recipients. Seems she is setting the bar very low but following the stereotypical Democratic marching orders. I am surprised she didn't mention the war on women and immigration.

 

[TexMichFan]

This use of 'literally' gets frequently brought up, but the official definition has changed in recent years to also include figuratively. So, actually Debbie Wasserman-Shultz used the term appropriately, and the OP was wrong.

"But people increasingly use “literally” to give extreme emphasis to a statement that cannot be true, as in: “My head literally exploded when I read Merriam-Webster, among others, is now sanctioning the use of literally to mean just the opposite.”

"Indeed, Ragan’s PR Daily reported last week that Webster, Macmillan Dictionary and Google have added this latter informal use of “literally” as part of the word’s official definition. The Cambridge Dictionary has also jumped on board."

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/22/acc...terally_now_also_means_figuratively_newscred/

So what you are saying is that literally can now mean literally anything.

 

[22*43*51]

This use of 'literally' gets frequently brought up, but the official definition has changed in recent years to also include figuratively. So, actually Debbie Wasserman-Shultz used the term appropriately, and the OP was wrong.

"But people increasingly use “literally” to give extreme emphasis to a statement that cannot be true, as in: “My head literally exploded when I read Merriam-Webster, among others, is now sanctioning the use of literally to mean just the opposite.”

"Indeed, Ragan’s PR Daily reported last week that Webster, Macmillan Dictionary and Google have added this latter informal use of “literally” as part of the word’s official definition. The Cambridge Dictionary has also jumped on board."

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/22/acc...terally_now_also_means_figuratively_newscred/

So... If people are dumb enough, long enough, they'll finally get the world to handicap them?

 

[markfromj]

This use of 'literally' gets frequently brought up, but the official definition has changed in recent years to also include figuratively.

Although I don't like it, this is true. But...

Then don't we need a new word for what "literally" used to mean? What is that new word?

 

[22*43*51]

Although I don't like it, this is true. But...

Then don't we need a new word for what "literally" used to mean? What is that new word?

Forealz!

 

[moral_victory]

Although I don't like it, this is true. But...

Then don't we need a new word for what "literally" used to mean? What is that new word?

It will take some thought to find a word that precisely means literally.

 

[22*43*51]

It will take some thought to find a word that precisely means literally.

Let's just make the flip-flop complete and say that "Figuratively" is the new "Literally". Since I have come to find that literally can now mean figuratively.

Literally speaking, of course.

 

[fivecardstud14]

"Literally" is the only word that means what it is, and the opposite of what it is. I met a lady who writes for the DSM Register at a bar last weekend and she used it every other word. I had to tell her to knock it off and speak like an adult.

 

[moral_victory]

"Literally" is the only word that means what it is, and the opposite of what it is. I met a lady who writes for the DSM Register at a bar last weekend and she used it every other word. I had to tell her to knock it off and speak like an adult.

Well that and bad. I believe there are other examples too.

 

[Pinehawk]

So... If people are dumb enough, long enough, they'll finally get the world to handicap them?

Language, like all things, evolves over time.

 

[fredjr82]

It will take some thought to find a word that precisely means literally.

Let it be known that on the Twenty-Fifth day of August, in year Two Thousand and Fifteen. HROT has officially changed the meaning of the word "literally". To takes its place "actually" will now be known as the word for something that "actually happened"

Good day

 

[moral_victory]

Language, like all things, evolves over time.

Let it be known that on the Twenty-Fifth day of August, in year Two Thousand and Fifteen. HROT has officially changed the meaning of the word "literally". To takes its place "actually" will now be known as the word for something that "actually happened"

Good day

 

[22*43*51]

Language, like all things, evolves over time.

We are indeed a world peopled by Troglodytes.

 

[Lone Clone]

So... If people are dumb enough, long enough, they'll finally get the world to handicap them?

That's the case with too many words and phrases. We've had this discussion before.

 

[iCRUNCH]

 

[moral_victory]

Here he is from another angle.

 

[BABiscuit]

I'm okay with using literally to mean figuratively if the context is clear. It literally rained cats and dogs is okay. We all know it didn't rain cats and dogs. OP has literally the tiniest penis in the world is not okay as we aren't sure whether that means it truly is the tiniest or is just really small.

 

[fredjr82]

OP has literally the tiniest penis in the world

 

[pablow]

Language, like all things, evolves over time.

I think the proper word is "devolves."

 

[TexMichFan]

Flammable and inflammable.

Ted, I gave you a like so now you literally have 100% as many likes as posts.

 

[EagleHawk]

It's hard to explain a pun to a kleptomaniac because they always take things, literally.

 

[wneff]

I think the proper word is "devolves."

Don't get me started on how "begs the question" has been perverted into meaning "raises the issue." That is not what the term is supposed to mean, but it is beginning to be recognized as an acceptable use.

 

[MN.HAWK]

I'm okay with using literally to mean figuratively if the context is clear. It literally rained cats and dogs is okay.

It may be okay in your eyes but, it literally shouldn't be. Eventually to, too, two, and there, their, they're will be interchangeable and people won't care and anyone who attempts to point this out will be the person in the wrong..... oh, wait.

 

[jellyfish10]

Just another stupid word or phrase that catches on with mouth breathers and just won't go away. At the end of the day this thread literally is what it is. But at the same time I'm just trying to give literally 120 percent in this post because at the end of the day, you are all my besties.

Where is the damn machine gun emoji anyway?

 

[Lone Clone]

Don't get me started on how "begs the question" has been perverted into meaning "raises the issue." That is not what the term is supposed to mean, but it is beginning to be recognized as an acceptable use.

And look what's happened to "The exception tests the rule."

 

[CuttyDoesIt]

"Could Care Less" is my biggest annoyance

 

[moral_victory]

"Could Care Less" is my biggest annoyance

I could care less.

 

[CuttyDoesIt]

I could care less.

how much more could you care less?

 

[IMCC965]

This use of 'literally' gets frequently brought up, but the official definition has changed in recent years to also include figuratively. So, actually Debbie Wasserman-Shultz used the term appropriately, and the OP was wrong.

"But people increasingly use “literally” to give extreme emphasis to a statement that cannot be true, as in: “My head literally exploded when I read Merriam-Webster, among others, is now sanctioning the use of literally to mean just the opposite.”

"Indeed, Ragan’s PR Daily reported last week that Webster, Macmillan Dictionary and Google have added this latter informal use of “literally” as part of the word’s official definition. The Cambridge Dictionary has also jumped on board."

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/22/acc...terally_now_also_means_figuratively_newscred/

Changing the language to support the argument at any cost has become a liberal-progressive phenomenom since Obama became POTUS.

This just proves the point.

 

[IMCC965]

"Could Care Less" is my biggest annoyance

I two, could care less. It literally sucks how much I could care less.

 

[Chewback]

This use of 'literally' gets frequently brought up, but the official definition has changed in recent years to also include figuratively. So, actually Debbie Wasserman-Shultz used the term appropriately, and the OP was wrong.

"But people increasingly use “literally” to give extreme emphasis to a statement that cannot be true, as in: “My head literally exploded when I read Merriam-Webster, among others, is now sanctioning the use of literally to mean just the opposite.”

"Indeed, Ragan’s PR Daily reported last week that Webster, Macmillan Dictionary and Google have added this latter informal use of “literally” as part of the word’s official definition. The Cambridge Dictionary has also jumped on board."

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/22/acc...terally_now_also_means_figuratively_newscred/

Dictionaries are whores. Literally.

 

[HotelAlphaWilcoKilo]

Language, like all things, evolves over time.

Can't wait until "would/should/could of" replaces "would have" and every declarative statement gets a question mark slapped onto the end of it.

Because grammar?

 

[EagleHawk]

Reminds me of the person about 10 years ago had to apologize for using the word 'niggardly' because people thought that he was racist.

 

[naturalmwa]

Changing the language to support the argument at any cost has become a liberal-progressive phenomenom since Obama became POTUS.

This just proves the point.

Thanks Obama literally?