Since it’s widely accepted that the word “literally” can be used to add emphasis, we need another word that can be used when you want to make it clear that you really mean “literally” in the original sense.

  • LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works
    21·
    29 days ago

    I would argue that, uses of literally, in the literal sense, in common language, is rarely used, any more. Mostly because, If you have to add “believe me” at the end of your sentence, it makes you seem sus. And “literally”, in common language, is usually added to the end, in the same way, the sarcastic, and facetious, presentations use. So we’ve adopted different signifiers, mostly, anyway. People usually say, "you are not going to believe what happened to me today ". Even the sarcastic etc uses are dying out, in a time when, extreme positions aren’t, easily taken at face value for being over the top, or, easily definable as sarcasm etc, which is what sarcasm relies heavily on. I think, all the extreme stuff going on, is making it almost impossible to even use literally, in almost either application. I’m sad! It’s such a fun word to say.

      • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.cafeEnglish
        1·
        29 days ago

        I used to use a lot more commas, to make my writing sound more like speaking, but it interrupts the flow of the thought. I’ve found that it’s often better to just keep on flowing, and only use commas for major clauses, or for side thoughts that are still relevant enough to not use parentheses. Also to separate thoughts so they don’t get mixed together.

        When I end up with a paragraph like this, I’ll start editing our commas, and perhaps rearrange my thoughts.

        • Dozzi92@lemmy.world
          2·
          29 days ago

          Yeah, my job involves grammaticizing (my word) the spoken word, and I need to sometimes remind myself that just because a person speaks the comma, it doesn’t mean there is a comma. It’s definitely easy to want to vibe (to use the vernacular) commas places, though.