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May 7

Misuse of literal and literally

Posted on Friday, May 7, 2010 in Misused words and expressions

Literal, literally.

Often incorrectly used in support of exaggeration or violent metaphor.

Poor: A literal flood of abuse.
Better: A flood of abuse.

Poor: Literally dead with fatigue.
Better: Almost dead with fatigue (dead tired).

From: William Strunk, Jr., The Elements of Style, 1918.

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