You can literally take the word literally out of any sentence that it is used in and it literally still makes sense. Literally

@loota_

2 жыл бұрын

What word?

@ayeshaahmadi2294

2 жыл бұрын

Literally!!

@zochiang

Жыл бұрын

Yes literally using the word literally is literally annoying man

Here's a rule of a thumb... if adding the word literally to your sentence does not remove any ambiguity, you're incorrectly using it. Example1: I just walked in vs. I literally just walked in. (the word literally adds no value as the first sentence was clear). Example2: She threw me under the bus vs. She literally threw me under the bus. (here, it makes a difference). I swear this word has become a pet peeve of mine. It's excessively misused to emphasize facts (rather than make the distinction between figurative and literal/actual descriptions).

@bait5257

2 жыл бұрын

Yup

@desmondclark3193

2 жыл бұрын

Omg. Yes this right. This makes the most sense.

@LauraCourtneyette

2 жыл бұрын

Well said 👍🏼

@SuperDangerousMouse

2 жыл бұрын

@@LauraCourtneyette thank you

@joebidenissus1975

Жыл бұрын

ITS SO ANNOYING

The misuse and overuse of the word is driving me a bit nuts. I've noticed that it has even become near-ubiquitous among newscasters and political talking heads who wish to add emphasis, but it only detracts from their credibility. It is especially irksome in that context.

@SlowEasyEnglish

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, seriously? Newscasters???

@WILLIAMCHANEL

3 жыл бұрын

Slow Easy English I hear it said often on NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, and Fox. Ari Melber misused the word the other day on MSNBC. Rachel Maddow used it correctly but ineffectively a couple of weeks ago. The word is frequently misused on Fox “News,” but I sometimes wonder if their presenters do it on purpose to appeal to their uneducated demographic? And whoever the people are who present for CBS News’ Internet stream are the worst offenders.

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

Except it isn’t used incorrectly , literally has been used as a hyperbolic intensifier for hundreds of years

@WILLIAMCHANEL

3 жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 “Isn’t used incorrectly”? A hyperbolic modifier for centuries? Ok. But it doesn’t work as hyperbole when its usage is intended by the speaker to mean the opposite of the word’s definition. That is a contemporary phenomenon that doesn’t serve anyone well, IMO. In this case, the mutation of the word’s common usage from exaggeration to nonsense does not communicate hyperbole. Rather, it’s simply a modifier that means “really,” “truly,” “very,” “especially,” “actually,” “mildly,” etc. Within the context of the news, specifically, I would much prefer the newscaster indicate which of those terms he or she actually means to communicate to me. It’s a lazy word. The word is effective hyperbolically when it’s speaker seeks to inject humor by asking an audience to suspend belief momentarily and imagine what a literal iteration of the exaggeration would actually be or look like. That is different from a modifier that means anything anyone wants it to in any context. And that’s new.

@WILLIAMCHANEL

3 жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 and I should say, too: the word being used in television news to mean whatever one wants bothers me as a symptom of the erosion of journalistic standards. In my thinking, I attach the usage to misinformation phenomena, the editorialization of the news, and the perverse school of thought that there exist “alternative facts” in American history and government. I feel like a jerk for sounding so judgey-that’s not what’s in my heart. But when it comes to the news, it bothers me 🤷🏻‍♂️

Hello from South Korea! I moved to the states 6months ago and i am having a hard time getting along with friends, school and teachers. I think it’s harder for me to get into it cause im a teenager. Umm first of all thank you for making helpful videos and i hope you get to film more about english grammer or corrections that teenagers must know have a great day!

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

Hey Se Eun (don't know if that's correct but that's how Google translated your name lol)! Thanks for the comment! Sorry to hear about your troubles in the US. I hope it gets better for ya! The good news is that if high school isn't fun, it gets infinitely better at college. lol. I'm glad you're liking my vids. Thanks for the compliment. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to post them! I'm not really sure what teens are studying grammar-wise in the US these days.

@i_toms

4 жыл бұрын

Don't worry you'll get along. I can teach you, I live there too

@WILLIAMCHANEL

3 жыл бұрын

I hope your time in the United States has gotten better! 💖

Hello from France! Thanks for this explanation very clear!

Thank you so much for this short video, but it's a great help and clarifying the confusion about it.

I don't why people use literally too much, its also annoying me 😤 mostly people show that they are good in English and became overconfident but it confuses me. But i know mostly people use this word incorrectly 😡

@those-who-live-in-death

Жыл бұрын

I use it in my sentences when can be confused with rethoric or figurative meanings. Also a way to replace "out of jokes" or to reforce a sentence that is serious, exactly and precisely.

Great video. Goes straight to the point 👍

Thanks buddy I was starting to rage at people . And dude I really think you should make another longer vid on this subject because' literally' everyone is saying it in every sentence they say it's getting me down buddy the word has blown up recently it's scary lol.

@SlowEasyEnglish

3 жыл бұрын

RIP literally :(

Very good explanation 👌

I literally love your video!

@SlowEasyEnglish

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@Meloneru

3 жыл бұрын

hmm I have a question, what the difference between "I love your video", "I really love your video", and "I literally love your video"? cuz

Literally great video

I'm literally thankful for all the explanation about the common word 'literally' because that oftenly heard in any sentence nowadayz

The meaning(s) of a word are determined by how it's actually used-if is commonly used to mean "figuratively" and, more importantly, if other users of the language understand that usage, then... that's a correct way of using . Don't let anyone police your dialect.

@josegonzales9169

2 жыл бұрын

That's because English doesn't have an authority that controls the rules of the language like other languages, that doesn't mean it's a good thing.

@lookbovine

2 жыл бұрын

If it is superfluous it is not necessarily incorrect but is quite annoying and will make you sound like you know no other adjectives to add emphasis if it is used in every conversation.

@Stella-vj6sx

Жыл бұрын

Plus, languages change over time. If enough people keep using literally the 'wrong' way, it'll eventually be accepted as also correct. I won't take sides on whether this is good or bad, it's just a fact.

@themanwhocouldnotsleep6065

Жыл бұрын

The misuse of words like "literally" will lead us to so much confusion that we will eventually and inevitably lose our minds.

@LaymansLinguist

Жыл бұрын

@@themanwhocouldnotsleep6065 I think you mean "misuse"

So this video was uploaded 10 months ago but we are currently in the "Literally" frenzy.

@pdubzpyro

3 жыл бұрын

This has been going on for decades. It’s not new because you just noticed it.

@timothy2491

3 жыл бұрын

@@pdubzpyro I don't think it was a problem 10 years ago. Maybe it was a literary problem, but it's spread on social media

@GyeongmiBaeb

3 жыл бұрын

@@timothy2491 The Kardashians have been butchering this word since 2007 so it definitely was a thing. Of course social media only made it more obvious

Thank you i needed to knw the reel meani

thank you for your video. I literally know how to use this word.

Thx for this. This sh*t has to stop, everyone's using this word wrongly.

I can speak English, it's not bad but I have problems with words like "Literally" or "weird", but thank you, it helps!

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

literally can be used figuratively, a simple way to differentiate is to look at the context. "I literally ran here" obviously means someone actually ran, "You are literally the worst in the world" this is an opinion and hyperbole so it safe to say its using literally as figurative

@donranil4613

Жыл бұрын

Neither do I

Welcome back, Sir. It's nice to see you back again :)

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Olcay. :) And thanks for still being around!

@balikbas

4 жыл бұрын

@@SlowEasyEnglish It's my pleasure. You're doing great ;)

literally, you explained so well.

Indeed great vidio

Thumbs up! My only gripe is the presentation. Its really sluggish. But the point is excellent. It happens all the time. Users try to debate it's fine to use as slang. Yet the only word that implies it's not any slang or figure of speech.

"Hi, I'm Syl, and this is Slow Easy English. Today, ..." this is an epic introduction and I can't take it off of my head, literally.

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

Maybe I should rap it someday. "Yo, 'sup 'sup. Hey y'all I'm Syl, And this video is gonna be ill, I make it easy, I make it slow, I'll make your English speaking skillz grow." hahahaha

@andrelangraf6850

4 жыл бұрын

Hahah lol But the only problem here is that you wouldn't play it fast, otherwise it wouldn't make much sense I guess.

@dua.a88

7 ай бұрын

Literally u explained it so well, I'm literally thankful for that ❤️

Literally, you are right😁

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

Literally has been used figuratively for hundreds of years, people arent using it wrong

@blackbutterfly233ify

3 жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 yes they are. Example, the original poster used it incorrectly

The black switch on the wall behind your head makes it look like you literally have a Mohawk.

Thanks for literally helping me to literally use literally correctly, I literally always used it literally incorrectly, I literally died upon the realization that I literally have been using literally wrong, you literally saved my literal life

You literally right

Literally this vedio is more helpful then others.

Жыл бұрын

*than

Literally, you're making sense here...

I’m new to this channel

Perfect literally

What if i were to say "I literally JUST told him that" after someone asks if i told a person something like 5 seconds ago? Would it be more appropriate to take out the "just"?

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

That sounds natural and correct to me. :)

Thank you, it was literally not difficult! 😉

@speakyourheart5020

2 жыл бұрын

literally, it wasn't😂

Just gonna subscribe your channel

This video thought me how to use the word Literally properly, literally for the first time. Finally ì know it is wrong literally, if ì had said ì literally used to use the word Literally a thousand times a day correctly before this video thought me.😬🤭

This literally blew my mind thank you

@SlowEasyEnglish

3 жыл бұрын

Hmmm... literally? ;)

@overkilldyl6841

3 жыл бұрын

@@SlowEasyEnglish :P

Here cause I noticed how much I say it and it’s annoying 😂 I think it just became internet slang so everybody says it excessively now

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

literally has been used as a figurative word for hundreds of years

@those-who-live-in-death

Жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 funny... how the word to distinguish the literal from the figurativelly, is used literally in a figurativelly meaning. How ironic is...

I just needed to watch this video to confirm that every single day that I watch Twitch streamers I hear someone using this word so badly, literally, a lot of cringe.

Have never hated a word so much in my life, due to its overuse. Literally.

Thanks to dictionaries, the word literally literally means the opposite of itself.

The other misuse that troubles me is when people do mean literally, but it is completely unnecessary to say literally, because the thing they are describing has almost no chance of being mistaken for a figurative meaning “ I’m literally going to get my hair cut today “ well yes you are and you do mean literally but there was no confusion or need for you to say literally , “ I will be at your house in literally a minute “ yes that’s fine because we often use a minute figuratively to mean a short while which could for some people actually be 10 maybe 15 or even more minutes

I was in a brazilian server of a meme app and there was a post of a big bang theory of that one scene that a guy says "i've literally hadn't done this a million years" and Sheldon was like "Literally? Literally?" And the comments were "Stupid gringo dont know how to use literally"

I like your funny smile more than your teaching 😅😅😅

Not only English speakers use it wrong, Spanish speakers too

The word lead versus led drives me crazy because very few people get it correct.

@JustClaude13

Жыл бұрын

I have trouble with lead versus lead. And bow vs bow or bow. It gets complicated.

Literally is to the 2010’s as “like” and “you know” were to the 80’s

What is the meaning of oversimplified???

Where are you from ? I'm a teacher of English from Khabarovsk. I will be in Tokyo in august 😊

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

I'm from Toronto originally. What will you be doing in Tokyo? Vacation? I never heard of Khabarovsk before so I looked it up on the map. It's not very far from here, is it!

@user-sl6hc2qk6q

4 жыл бұрын

Vacation. Yes, it is. It' s nearby. Far Estern part of Russia. Thank you for your videos

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

@@user-sl6hc2qk6q That's great. I hope you have a great time in Tokyo! If you have some free time when you're here, feel free to let me know. It would be cool to meet some of my viewers. We could do a video together! haha

@user-sl6hc2qk6q

4 жыл бұрын

Oh, okey. Why not😁.

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

@@user-sl6hc2qk6q Unfortunately, I think KZread got rid of private messaging so you'll need to use Facebook or Instagram to contact me so that we can schedule a place/time. You can use the Facebook link that is on this channel or the Instagram link that is on my travel channel. Looking forward to it! :)

I tragically misused literally hahahahaha

@bobubob5025

3 жыл бұрын

Most do

@pory913

3 жыл бұрын

Even on google dictionary

@PopCapMusicTrending

3 жыл бұрын

@@pory913 hi, how's quarantine?

The show King of Queens made a point of this in early 2000s

hi professor Xavier.

That word has been confusing me 😂😂😂 especially on how people apply in a sentence

Hello sir. I have a slight confusion. Lets say I use the sentence "I am so hungry, I could literally eat a horse." This seems like an exaggerration and in most cases it is but what if I truly mean it. Will I still be allowed to use 'literally'.

@ACE112ACE112

4 жыл бұрын

Well can you eat a horse?

@midingpertin4294

4 жыл бұрын

@@ACE112ACE112 It's not impossible.

@uchijav5942

4 жыл бұрын

If you can literally eat a horse then yes

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

Lol!!! It is "literally" impossible for a human to eat a horse. I mean, maybe a whale could say it if they could speak. haha

It's extremely odd for non native Americans to hear how Americans don't know what literally means...

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

we do, the word just has multiple usages as its used to mean literally and figuratively depending on context

@igor4246

3 жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 The word does not have multiple usages. That video was pretty clear about it.

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

@@igor4246 and the history of the word and even its google definition make it pretty clear that it does. Literally has been used figuratively by famous authors for hundreds of years. A youtube video doesnt change that

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

@@igor4246 they even used it to be figurative in the great gatsby. So while the video says it doesnt have multiple usages, history, the definitions, and literature says it does have another meaning

@igor4246

3 жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 Your parameters are a movie and Google. Literally means literally, it does not have a different meaning. But do what you want, and speak how you like. Bye.

I'm like literally starting the like anti literally crusade. It's like literally driving me nuts.

Жыл бұрын

You've lost that war *looong* before you were even born. But you do you, Don Q.

The real problem is that people go around using it as an intensifier like completely, extremely, highly, rather, really, totally, utterly, very or actually or only just. So then they end up at one point during the day using a figure of speech or metaphor still thinking that "literally" is an intensifier. So when somebody says I've "literally got cold feet" in their mind they are saying "I'm actually nervous" Where it would actually mean "My toes are cold and I said literally because I don't want you to confuse it for a metaphor for being nervous, so I'm saying literally to distinguish that I need to wear a warm pair of socks." An example of this is when my friend said to me he "literally came out of the toilet." Where he actually meant. I have only just stepped out of the bathroom. If people didn't think it was an intensifier we wouldn't come across people saying literally and then using a figure of speech immediately afterwards.

oh god i literaly hate it when people do this

@earlofsandwich7884

3 жыл бұрын

It's been bugging me for most of 2020!

Being logically correct is difficult when the word 'literally' has been used as an intensifier in written English since 1769. It appears in works by Dickens, Austin and Bronte, among many others. It can even literally be found in Tom Sawyer. So to say it can't be used the way great authors have used it for centuries is going against a heavy precedent. But we have to stand firm. It literally indicates written letters and can only be used in reference to the written word. The more modern extension as a replacement for 'precisely' is a dangerous slope which will only lead to the licentiousness of imprecise speech, resulting in the degradation of the English language.

First of all tnx for clearing all confusions but I don't know how can I use "literally" in a sentence! I mean grammaticaly

People are using the word "literally" when they should be using the word "actually."

The volume was literally low, however I literally understand.

Am now confused about the fact that when i check in the dictionary it means wondering body Please try to correct me about it, thank you

@SlowEasyEnglish

3 жыл бұрын

Hard to say without seeing the dictionary myself but I can't imagine why it says "wondering body".

i literally didnt know how to use the word literally in a sentence now i literally know how to use it like "i literally took yr phone on purpose" i actually took yr 📱on purpose 🤔🤷

I recently retired from teaching at a doctoral level. While I genuinely like millenials their use of the word literally drove me crazy; "My face literally exploded when I saw that!" "My car insurance policy literally kicked me out because of too many tickets." A question to people who misuse the word: What word do you use when you actually mean to express the notion of literally?

Hello there, the audio it is not sson good, can you work on it?

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, sorry about that. It does sound a bit tinny, doesn't it? I forgot to use my external mic for this one. :(

@jesusistheonlyway2636

4 жыл бұрын

Maybe it’s ur phone I hear it fine

@conspiracybar7747

3 жыл бұрын

@@jesusistheonlyway2636 I just use the volume button. Many videos have different audio, so I adjust accordingly. :)

I find it easier to click Like before I have watched the video. 0:19

From the comment section of Joe Rogan Podcast I bring you: "legit" "Legit" seems to be the new "literally".. "Calling out video games is so common nowadays. How about calling out social media *which is legit making people psychotic."* I didn't get evidence for the commenter's assertion, but got some comments that his post was "figurative", not "literal".. because he used "legit".. which should mean 'legitimate/ly'

@SlowEasyEnglish

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, you're correct, in this context you could say "legit" is the same as "literally".

@OlviMasta77

3 жыл бұрын

@@SlowEasyEnglish As a non-native speaker of english this makes me happy! :)

"Even native English speakers." More like only native speakers get it wrong...

@SlowEasyEnglish

3 жыл бұрын

ha! kinda true!

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

look up literally in webster, this word has been used like this for hundreds of years by famous authors, it isnt used incorrectly

Жыл бұрын

@@SlowEasyEnglish Yeah, like Dickens, and Brontë, and Joyce.

It's literally clear to me

@voicevitality7197

3 жыл бұрын

So is it transparent or in focus?

I didn’t get. My concern is why we are using these type of words with regular English. We have many easy ways to talk such as “exactly”, “correctly”, “actually” , “accurately” and lot more.. really don’t know why we are confusing

Kinda confused! I just watched a YT Video of an American lady vlogger about the word "literally" and she used the word in an exaggerated way which is you said that it is wrong.

Bobby plays

I literally hate when people use the word literally

@unex6466

4 жыл бұрын

Shut up

Much appreciated, your pronunciation is literally obvious.

I been looking for a video like this, haha. Here is a list of some of the words that people wrongly replace "literally" for: Very Honestly Really So Actually

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

except they arent, literally is also used to emphasis something being said or exaggerate something and has been for a long time now, the great gatsby from 1925 even uses literally figuratively

@8iego815

3 жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 Nah, it is still wrongly used by definition. Authors of any story, no matter who or which, do not justify the misuse of a word.

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

@@8iego815 the word has definition in websters dictionary supporting the use of it to mean figuratively, so by definition people are using it correctly and people have gone into the history of literally.

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

​@@8iego815 there are words that are the opposites of themselves like literally, context matters. Left can mean to leave, but it can also me to remain. Cleave means to split or seperate but can also mean to stick together. and the authors werent misusing the word, they used it correctly.

@8iego815

3 жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 You my good sir, sound insane. And no, I don't mean the opposite meaning of it, nor my context clues have the intentions for your subjective point of view to see it as such. There's no reading between the lines nor an opinion on words. Unfortunately it's too late for society to understand. Definition lately has been, and will end up being rather culturally subjective as the pronunciations of words. You unfortunately, are part of that society...

Thank you sir.. You are so good. But the adverb of " literally" I don't understand. Since we are not native speakers better avoid speaking it 😞

I'm an Australian and my brother's wife (from US) + her family are always using "literally". Americans can't take a joke so I just take the piss out of them

Even native speakers? It's mostly wrongly used by them. You wouldn't hear a french or chinese person use it every other word.

It seems we're destroying the meaning of words in the English language at a more rapid pace than ever.

I think you're taking their use of the word literally. Lol I think you understand they're joking. Saying I literally ate their a million times is just ment to emphasize how much someone loves something by being silly. You sound fun to be around

Hey you looks like Jeff Bezos 👍

"This is literally me" That is not what literally means

Im confused fr ☠️

I use it in my sentences when it can be confused with rethoric or figurative meanings. Also a way to replace "out of jokes" or to reforce a sentence that is serious, exactly and precisely.

Laugh when you hear it! Think 80s bimbo.

LaNgUaGe iS eVoLvInG so therefore there’s no point in having any rules at all…. /s

In other words, don't use the word literally figuratively.

Literally I don't understand the word of " literally" 😐

I don't know what wrong wth me today ahhhhhhhaaaaaa

@SlowEasyEnglish

3 жыл бұрын

Every day! haha

Make a loud voice.

It drives me mad!

Better yet, don’t use it at all because you’ll sound like an inarticulate teenager!!

ITS SOOOO ANNOYING .people USING THIS WORD literally every sentence 😂😂😂😂

Literally means really

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

its like people dont understand words can have multiple meanings

@kishore4613

3 жыл бұрын

What do you mean

@kishore4613

3 жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 what do you mean

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

@@kishore4613 ive been debating people over this who think literally can only mean literal, and deny it has any other meaning even when dictionaries prove them wrong

@kishore4613

3 жыл бұрын

@@kaios9059 I am asking question What is literally?

My head figuratively expoded when i realized that i was using the word "literally" in a wrong way

@SlowEasyEnglish

3 жыл бұрын

Really glad to hear it didn't literally explode!

@kaios9059

3 жыл бұрын

you werent, literally can be used and has been used figuratively for hundreds of years, even famous authors have used it figuratively

@Balls1335

3 жыл бұрын

@trains and trams I guess we should just start changing definitions of words on a whim just because people are too lazy to utter any other word as an intensifier.

I think you are using the word wrong. You didnt mention that first there needs to be a figurative meaning of the word as well for "literally" to be used to point to the actual meaning of the word. Saying "i literally walked 200 meters" is not a thing - saying "i literally dug my own grave" could be, if you pre-dug your grave with a shovel, cuz literally distinguishes from the figurative meaning of the word.

@SlowEasyEnglish

4 жыл бұрын

I am using the word correctly. That's the whole point of the video, and I think my saying "it's not a metaphor or an exaggeration" makes it clear that there is often a figurative counterpart, no? I am hearing native speakers use it incorrectly (when they intend to use it figuratively) but also simply when it's inappropriate (not needed at all), which is why I felt a need for this lesson in the first place - to warn learners that it is often misused. I'm not saying that it's never used correctly as in your "grave" example. Thanks for the comment.

@HarshitDwivedi-pz2ny

4 жыл бұрын

@@SlowEasyEnglish Grave example😂

@voicevitality7197

3 жыл бұрын

I cringe when people say "i literally hate ......"

If there were cats and dogs falling from the sky… you could say it’s literally raining cats and dogs

Just don‘t use the word at all!!

Жыл бұрын

"Multiple exclamation mark" - Terry Pratchett

just dont use it