The word literally is used to much?

[ZippyRaven]

I listen to YouTube videos online to keep me company whilst working. I've noticed the word literally is used a lot, and incorrectly.

Eg "I literally got soaked through in the rain".

"She literally didn't know her way back home"

Etc

Aibu

Absolutely hate it; you see it on here all the time. People have been so brainwashed into misusing it, that it became the norm years ago.

You're literally right!

What was that tv programme, with Jimmy Carr. I literally just told you. That summed it up for me. Off to Pedants' corner you will be told.

It literally is

I work with teenagers. Several of them have told me today that they’re literally dying in the heat.

😆 🤣

I was literally thinking the same thing!

It's being phased out isn't it?
It's used a lot less than it used to be

but they literally were!

The word literally is indeed used far too much, and almost exclusively where the word metaphorically would be more accurate.

Omfg, u know I can’t lie, I turned around and said at the end of the day it’s literally like that lmao

If argue the two example you have actually could be appropriate uses of the word. I’d take soaked through to mean rain soak through all layers of clothing into skin, which is certainly possible, as is not knowing your way home. It’s when people use it incorrectly, eg dying, starving etc.

I always think it’s a tad funny when someone points out people using words incorrectly, then makes an error themselves! It’s the kind of thing I’d do.😂🙈

If that’s directed at me, yes I know there are typos. Too tired to edit.

Guilty

No, not you. OP’s title!

Worse is 'litally'. Used a lot in these days of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Its meaning has changed. It is now used as an amplifier. Nowt we can do about it - language changes.

In my experience it’s not used as often now. The new popular pointless word is ‘obviously’.

It’s ‘like’ for me. When people insert it every other word - literally does my head in.

Of course. Has been for decades.

I hate these in conversation too. If you have to explain it, or if someone asked you a question then it’s not obvious is it? 🙄

Well you’d be perfectly justified in directing it at me too! 😂

I agree.

Along with big and little, and not just being able to be sorry to hear of someone's death, but you are expected to be sincerely sorry. If you cannot be sincere in being sorry, you should stay quiet and say nothing.

Whenever anyone says literally I immediately say ‘figuratively’. It’s an issue, I can’t stop. My dad did it