Literally Talking About ‘Literally’
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To mean exactly that which is said, a way of putting an emphasis on something, an opportunity for hilarity.
Literally is the opposite of figuratively, and is one of the most misused words in existence, so misused in fact that popular writers and authors have fumbled with it, mistaken for so long that The Oxford English Dictionary has included the false usage in its definition…
Literally means exactly, without exaggeration, without any ounce of falsity. If I am to say that “when people misuse this word, I literally pull my hair out,” I in fact am pulling my hair out.
The TV show ‘Parks and Recreation’s Chris Traeger uses the word often in humorous fashion, quotes include but are not limited to: “I have a resting heart rate of 28 beats per minute. The doctors who studied me said that my heart could, literally, pump jet fuel up into a jet.” or: “Leslie Knope is literally overflowing with ideas for this town.” “This was literally the most beautiful and moving thing I’ve ever heard.
While Chris Traeger is literally making fun of the all too often miscues, there are those out there, in the spotlight, that have mistakenly used it the wrong way without realization; take Joe Biden for example: “The American people who literally stood on the brink of a new depression,” “Literally the finest warriors in the history of the world,” “literally the first days that we took office General Motors and Chrysler were literally on the verge of liquidation.”
On the other hand, what people should be using most of the time, is ‘figuratively,’ “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse, figuratively speaking of course,” much better than stating that you feel you could literally eat one if it were presented to you.
I know that you’re all eagerly awaiting more examples of people using it in the wrong sense, so here you go:
Kristin Stewart: “Just because of how I felt around him. I literally saw Jacob in him.”
The New York Times: “Clinton literally shocked his audience, by criticizing Mr. Obama and his campaign.”
Sarah Palin’s spokeswoman: “The world is literally her oyster.”
Jerry Falwell: “If you and I do not speak up now, this homosexual steamroller will literally crush all decent men, women, and children who get in its way.”
Sarah Jessica Parker: “My fatal flaw is that I have to be involved literally down to splitting atoms.”
Nick Clegg: Tax avoiders are “literally in a different galaxy.”
Access Hollywood doctor: “When you take a look at Britney Spears and her behavior, it’s very frightening. She is literally on a roller coaster to hell.
Can you think of any other famous fumbles with the word literally? Do you remember yourself ever using it the wrong way? Do you literally cringe when someone does this?