I don't think I've ever said it without hearing myself and saying, "Not literally." It is, however, one of my most pet peeves. One of the most annoying is "literally exploded." I have imagined what people, brains, the internet, ratings, interest, the stock market, and so on would look like after the explosion.
Hmm. It's sounds like the finest party I can imagine getting paid to go to.
Mal ,'Shindig'
Natter 70: Hookers and Blow
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Ginger - Jun 13, 2012 7:07:08 am PDT #9474 of 30001
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
Steph L. - Jun 13, 2012 7:13:24 am PDT #9475 of 30001
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
It is, however, one of my most pet peeves.
Man, mine too. I think because of the sheer irony of it. People who misuse it aren't using "literally"...literally.
Jesse - Jun 13, 2012 7:18:01 am PDT #9476 of 30001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Is there anyone here willing to own up to using the word literally when they don't mean it?
I do it literally 12 times a day.
If so...do you get snippy if someone asks if that's what you really meant (especially when it's obvious you didn't?)?
And no.
Also note similar (but less annoying?) use of "really."
le nubian - Jun 13, 2012 7:20:28 am PDT #9477 of 30001
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
Ever since Rob Lowe on "Parks & Rec", I think I have removed "literally" from my vocabulary except the once a month when I do mean it as advertised.
le nubian - Jun 13, 2012 7:21:04 am PDT #9478 of 30001
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
I abuse "really" like it is $2 mule.
Scrappy - Jun 13, 2012 7:23:19 am PDT #9479 of 30001
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
I use "totally" in the same way. So I am annoying, ungrammatical AND a throwback to the '80s.
Amy - Jun 13, 2012 7:24:32 am PDT #9480 of 30001
Because books.
I'm bad with "actually" and "really," but I've been making an effort not to use literally unless I mean it. Not too successfully, I should add.
Polter-Cow - Jun 13, 2012 7:25:28 am PDT #9481 of 30001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Literally, really, totally, actually, I use ALL THE ADVERBS. Strunk and White hate me.
Burrell - Jun 13, 2012 7:28:04 am PDT #9482 of 30001
Why did Darth Vader cross the road? To get to the Dark Side!
I am sure I misuse literally sometimes. I make other grammar errors too.
If so...do you get snippy if someone asks if that's what you really meant (especially when it's obvious you didn't?)?
No, but now that I teach writing, I make every effort to suppress correcting people's spoken grammar errors. I find it makes people defensive--perhaps since they associate me with teaching and grammar?--and usually when I'm speaking to someone I don't want to make them defensive.
Steph L. - Jun 13, 2012 7:31:01 am PDT #9483 of 30001
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
I use "totally" in the same way. So I am annoying, ungrammatical AND a throwback to the '80s.
As in "We totally went to the pier"? I do that all the time. Based on my spoken English, no one should EVER believe I get paid to edit.