Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we’re saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I’m Lauren Smyth, 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” literally translates to “good day.” Or it can mean the opposite of figuratively. “Words can be used both literally and figuratively.”
What literally SHOULD 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’s 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 adjective, such as: “My day was ghastly” or “I am woefully far behind.”
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