Amen. This is how good words get ruined. They mean something very specific but get misused so much they stop meaning anything. Now, if I ever use "literally" I feel the need to qualify it: "No, I mean actually, literally, verbatim, that's what happened," which is a lot less efficient.
Bonnie, I agree, and unfortunately itтАЩs an ignorance about our language in general. So many words and phrases being misused and misunderstood these days.
I don't think it's evolution, it's lack of knowledge about the meaning of "literally".
Maybe both?
Amen. This is how good words get ruined. They mean something very specific but get misused so much they stop meaning anything. Now, if I ever use "literally" I feel the need to qualify it: "No, I mean actually, literally, verbatim, that's what happened," which is a lot less efficient.
Bonnie, I agree, and unfortunately itтАЩs an ignorance about our language in general. So many words and phrases being misused and misunderstood these days.