People Who Use the Word "literally" Incorrectly

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Gravitas

Gravitas

Gravitas

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Or simply when it's not needed.

I've long wondered why they don't seem to know they shouldn't be doing it. As it's the sort of thing that comes up quite often over the years, somewhere. It's similar, in that way, to people who don't seem to have heard that having a limp handshake is not a good thing - at least for a male. At least for a straight male.

And it's not just scally type chavs who do it. I've just heard a football TV commentator (not an ex-player) say "England literally blew the USA team away". And he must be well into his 50s. If they were literally blown away, surly it would have been hurricane Brian that did the blowing, not them.

I would have thought if the parents didn't teach their children about the correct usage, it would be covered sometime in their ten years of schooling anyway? But did your teachers ever mention it?

And while you are thinking about it, you may wish to post some examples of its misuse.
 
Moses said:
They altered the definition in recent years because it became common usage for people to use it incorrectly - the classic, 'he literally put it on a plate for him' when talking about a player setting up a chance for a team mate, etc.
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Yes, it was reported in The Mail a few years ago. But that is ******** isn't it. Jamie Redknapp was wrong to say Michael Owen was literally a greyhound. He's literally a Yorkshire terrier.
 
My kids do this. That coupled with the overuse of the word 'like' makes me cringe. I have managed to reign in their 'up talking' recently though (when they would end every sentence as though it were a question). If I managed to do that, I'm confident I can literally stop them doing the other aforementioned things.
 
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