Literally - Merriam-Webster Ask the Editor

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts. See more videos at http://www.merriam-webster.com/video/...

• Category

  Education

[SpinozasPsyche]

I literally murder anyone who uses this word incorrectly.

[FHomeBrew]

This is literally confusing....

[Adrian Sanchez]

"curious about the composition of your offspring"...

[urganodevotaton]

To point out easily avoidable confusing uses/misuses of words evolving out of people's confusion or disregard for clarity has its place. If you just accept any development that's popular you will often end up with sloppy, confusing and even inaccurate writing and speech.

[bobtheduck]

There are an awful lot of people here who don't understand the dynamic nature of language. Most words are no longer used in a manner consistent with their original meanings. That's to be expected. This happens in every language, and overt efforts to prevent language from changing and diversifying are silly at best. Interestingly, the thing that's most kept language in place and unified (within national boundaries) is television. Some regional dialects in England pre TV are almost unrecognizable.

[samanark]

To me, there is a difference between morphology and a bunch of people just using a word incorrectly. The use of "literally" as an intensifier and in its legitimate form become nearly indistinct since people will tend to regard it in a kind of half intensifier, half legitimate way, thus the word loses meaning. "Virtually" is a much better replacement since it literally means what people tend to use "literally" to mean. (i.e. "My kids were so hyper, they were virtually bouncing off the walls.")

[urganodevotaton]

Even intelligent people degrade language. And the degradation can end up becoming accepted by dictionaries despite being confusing and stupid. I like Pope's usage of "literally" though because rather than just using it as an emphasis of the sameyness of each day he is sort of literally denying that his present day is not a yesterday and that is awesome.

[urganodevotaton]

Even intelligent people degrade language. And the degradation can end up becoming accepted by dictionaries despite being confusing and stupid. I like Pope's usage of "literally" though because rather than just using it as an emphasis of the sameyness of each day he is sort of literally denying that he has todays and that is awesome.

[Exgrmbl]

well, language is a mess.

[fiann100]

Why not say effectively and avoid the confusion?

[IntroSpectre6x3]

Muskrat? 

[CodeMage]

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.