Comment on The word literally makes me so irrationally angry

• Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  It literally doesn’t. Just use the context to know how it’s being used.

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  • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Disagree. When a word means what it actually means, but also means the opposite, then it doesn’t mean anything. The whole point of using “literally” is to establish context, to distinguish an actual literal situation when the language used would otherwise be interpreted as figurative.

    I’m generally not a prescriptivist, but I’ll figuratively die on this hill. “Literally can mean figuratively” literally robs “literally” of its meaning.

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    • Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I’m generally not a prescriptivist, but I’ll figuratively die on this hill.

      You wouldn’t literally die on the hill? Doesn’t sound like you’re very committed. 😌

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      • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        If it was literally a hill I would, but semantic integrity isn’t actually a geological protuberance.

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