Help save the literal meaning of "literally."
During an election party last night, we discussed a topic that often divides Americans: the correct use of the adverb literally. Sadly, literally is one of our language’s most commonly misused words—and it is up to you, my fellow Americans, to help save it.
As you can see from these examples, “literally” (which means explicitly, actually, or really) is often misused as a replacement for figuratively or metaphorically:
He literally had a gun at his head when he signed the contract.
I literally lost my mind.
The Beatles literally exploded onto the music scene.
Frank McCourt literally dragged the Dodgers into the sewers before selling the team in 2012.
In each of these examples, “literally” is misused because none of these things actually happened (well, except maybe the last one). And in using the word in this way, the writer is helping to make “literally” just another vague intensifier.
Help stop the madness. “Literally” should be used only when something extreme occurred, and to signal the reader that you’re not being merely metaphorical, e.g.:
Josi was literally up all night preparing for oral argument.
On September 10, 1960, Mickey Mantle literally hit a baseball out of Tiger Stadium.
Chad literally fell out of his chair laughing.
That is all for now …