I try not to get too grouchy about the increasing numbers of language usage errors that appear today in conversation, on television, even in august print publications. Grouchiness is a slippery slope in midlife: one day you're bitching over a single word, then before you know it you don't like the weather, the government, the traffic, the cost of living, the color yellow, your house, your spouse, your nose, your teeth, your dog, or pizza.
Despite these good intentions, I have to say that the moribund state of word "literally" really irritates me. Once a sturdy little worker bee, the poor thing's been blurred out and beaten down until it's a useless shadow of its former self.
As in: That purse cost like, literally, a million dollars.
As in: He's literally skin and bones.
As in: I literally died.
Part of what irritates me is that there's no really graceful substitute for the word. If you can think of one, do please post a comment below.
I'll be so grateful, I'll literally kiss you.
I'll be so grateful, I'll literally kiss you.
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