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We need a word for "literally" that doesn't also mean "not literally"
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this post was submitted on 09 May 2026
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.
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- Both “200” and “160” are 2 minutes in microwave math
- When you’re a kid, you don’t realize you’re also watching your mom and dad grow up.
- More dreams have been destroyed by alarm clocks than anything else
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No, this is something that has not changed at all since the 18th century, learn to read
You are so confidently incorrect and unable to recognize your error. I invite you to re-read the whole article. This is a use that first surfaced in the 18th century and has slowly become more common, with an adoption peak recently. That's how languages evolve.
In any case, definitely not about illiteracy, which, once again, is your original claim.
Gain some maturity.
The primary definition is unchanged for several centuries, the secondary definition has always been secondary and is more controversial than ever, if anything it seems pretty obvious that any linguistic drift occurring is in the opposite direction of your preference. I'm right and I'm winning, cope.
Nothing in what you said invalidates anything that I said. Nothing in what you said suggests illiteracy for the secondary use. I suggest you work on your reading comprehension and your argumentation consistency.
No. It is more common than ever, which is why it is also controversial. And for the record, I don't like the secondary meaning at all and I do not use the word this way. But, I recognize that it exists and I'm not sour and elitist about it as you are.
Lmao. You didn't pick up on the maturity part, did you?
Nothing anywhere in this thread or anywhere else indicates that misuse of the word literal was the result of anything other than illiteracy, only that this specific trend in illiteracy isn't new. Doing shit wrong for 2 centuries doesn't make it any less stupid.
There is no right or wrong with expanding a language. A language is never set in stone, it evolves as people use it. If a large amount of people use a word a certain way, no one has the authority to say that it is wrong. This sort of change is what makes a language alive. Only dead languages are set in stone.
If you disagree with this, then you should use old english, not this peasant modern variant we all use. Have a bit of consistency!
Linguistic drift towards being less comprehensible is objectively bad, fucking duh
That's a subjective observation. Most people have no problem understanding a word that has different meanings (so, almost every single word) based on context.
Anyway, this has been fun but I'm all out of time to waste on you! Good luck to you :)
Most people have no trouble walking, the invention of the wheelchair was still a step in the right direction because people exist for whom that is not true. A more comprehensible language is objectively better whether it makes a difference for you or not.
"Telling me I'm wrong is immature"
No, your insulting and (baseless) bragging are.
Have you perhaps considered crying about it?
Why would I? I'm not the emotional one here :)
Sure thing bud, totally believable