I am literally amazed at what is on the Internet. Did you know that there is a blog devoted to the misuse of the word literally? I just discovered it, and it’s lots of fun. It’s called Literally, A Web Log.
Have you ever heard somebody say something like, “I’m literally starving to death”? Do you see the problem? They are acutally using the figure of speech known as hyperbole, which is a fancy word for exaggeration or overstatement. The speaker is figuratively–not literally–starving to death.
What’s the big deal you ask? Well, if I want to say that some children in Ethiopia are starving to death, and I’m not exaggerating, I would then say that they are literally starving to death. It is important that when I say so, people don’t think I’m just exaggerating for effect.
Check out Literally, A Web Log for some amusing and surprising examples of this error.
11 responses so far ↓
Eve // September 18, 2007 at 3:01 pm |
Hmm… but saying “I’m figuratively dying of thirst” just doesn’t cut it.
Now what are we supposed to say?
renaissanceguy // September 18, 2007 at 3:41 pm |
Good point, Eve. You could just say, “I’m dying of thirst,” and most people would not take it literally.
languagelover // September 18, 2007 at 9:59 pm |
You could also throw in a much overused word like “really” as in “I’m really dying of thirst.” That would create the hyperbole without the misuse of the word “literally.” You really could do that. Literally.
renaissanceguy // September 19, 2007 at 12:00 am |
Thanks, Language Lover. That’s true.
janie // September 19, 2007 at 10:54 am |
RG, thanks for posting this–it is very interesting and hits home for me. Although I would not say anything like “I’m literally starving,” I regularly use too much hyperbole and do too much exaggerating. It is really irritating to my husband, who often asks me to try to tone it down. Okay, I’m convicted. I’m going to try very hard to do the right thing and honor my husband’s request in this regard.
mommy // September 19, 2007 at 12:37 pm |
The misuse of “literally” has been a pet peeve of mine for literally my whole life
renaissanceguy // September 20, 2007 at 8:15 pm |
Thanks, Janie.
Thanks, Mommy.
AnthonyNorth // September 21, 2007 at 8:42 am |
I think the language we use is constantly changing, sometimes through new trends, at other times through laziness. After all, I’d say most people today would think ‘hyperbole’ is a sports stadium.
renaissanceguy // September 21, 2007 at 8:50 am |
Right, AnthonyNorth.
Perhaps people will invent a new word to use then they literally mean “literally.”
Quoting Saint Augustine « The Third Eve // September 30, 2007 at 12:00 pm |
[...] Augustine behind, for he has become an honest, passionate and true Christian friend. I think that Renaissance Guy would understand if I dared to write that I had literally fallen in love with Saint [...]
goofy // December 27, 2007 at 11:52 pm |
If I say I’m really starving, am I starving for real?