Community Chat

[millieshops]

So who knew that since the late 1880's language critics have been discussing the change from literal's original meaning toward the use today of when it's used more as an intensifier.

We could probably find examples right here in the Forums.  Ever wonder how a poster who "literally died laughing" was able to live to tell us?

[santorini]

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@millieshops wrote:

So who knew that since the late 1880's language critics have been discussing the change from literal's original meaning toward the use today of when it's used more as an intensifier.

We could probably find examples right here in the Forums.  Ever wonder how a poster who "literally died laughing" was able to live to tell us?

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Yes, the old, "if they use it the wrong way enough, let's just change the meaning and make it fine to do so."  The dumbing down of America.  I hate that.  

[shoekitty]

"Literally is an adverb meaning "in a literal sense or manner," often used to emphasize the truth of a statement. It can also mean "virtually" or "in effect," which has become a common but somewhat controversial usage."

I guess it could be used today as we have used other words, like COOL, or BAD.    So many words have generational changes made to that.  We adapt.  Not to say it's right or wrong, it just happens.  I still have trouble with kids using the word SICK, LOL

[LTT1]

@santorini @Bella2022 @shoekitty @millieshops @THEY CallMe Mr Wilkes 

LOL‼️

There's also the phrase "to be honest"‼️

it seems to be inserted everywhere.

My question is: "why wouldn't you be?"

[Bella2022]

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@LTT1 wrote:

@santorini @Bella2022 @shoekitty @millieshops @THEY CallMe Mr Wilkes 

LOL‼️

There's also the phrase "to be honest"‼️

it seems to be inserted everywhere.

My question is: "why wouldn't you be?"

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Kind of late lady 

[Bella2022]

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@Bella2022 wrote:

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@LTT1 wrote:

@santorini @Bella2022 @shoekitty @millieshops @THEY CallMe Mr Wilkes 

LOL‼️

There's also the phrase "to be honest"‼️

it seems to be inserted everywhere.

My question is: "why wouldn't you be?"

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Kind of late lady 

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Forgot what I even said 🤔

[shoekitty]

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@LTT1 wrote:

@santorini @Bella2022 @shoekitty @millieshops @THEY CallMe Mr Wilkes 

LOL‼️

There's also the phrase "to be honest"‼️

it seems to be inserted everywhere.

My question is: "why wouldn't you be?"

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@LTT1   lol, how true, honestly..lol.  I think when someone says, "to be honest " it usually means., I ain't mincing words here.   But, I think it has just come to be an interjector, to clarify what they are about to say.  No wonder people learning English have. A hard time  with conversational English. Languages like Russian, German and a couple others don't have a lot of tactful, or interjectery words.  When they convert from their Russian mind, to English it can come off as very blunt, even tactless.  But it is their vocabulary.