WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Grammar Minute: You're LITERALLY So Wrong!

Episode Date: March 14, 2024

Learn why you've literally been using "literally" to mean exactly the opposite of what it literally means.

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we're saving the English language 60 seconds at a time. I'm Lauren Smith, and I am literally so tired of hearing people abuse the word literally. Let's break down what this word literally means. It often means completely accurate. Bonjour translates literally to good day. Or it can just mean the opposite of figuratively. Words can be used both literally and figuratively. What it does not mean is,

virtually. Exaggerated statements like, my day was literally the worst, are almost diametrically opposed to the literal meaning of literally. This is slang, but it is not the kind of slang we want in our lexicons. It's just lazy. If you've got to play up how terrible your day was, try substituting an interesting evocative adjectives, such as my day was ghastly or I am woefully far behind. That's your grammar minute.