Standing in the coffee shop line the other day, I couldn’t help overhearing these cringeworthy conversations around me:

• “OMG. I literally died laughing!” (No, you’re very much alive, I thought to myself. That’s unfortunate for those of us around you).
• “I’m literally freezing.” (You’re probably just cold and under-dressed I thought).
• “The dude’s business literally exploded!” (Call the bomb squad? Nope, just hyperbole, I thought).
• “There are literally like a million people in this line!” (Ughhh. Listening to you sure makes it feel that way).

What do all these anecdotes have in common? Misuse of the word “literally.” Originally, “literally” was a straightforward term with a clear purpose. It meant “in a literal sense” or “exactly” – a way to emphasize that you were describing something precisely, without metaphor or exaggeration.

For instance, if the temperature on the outside patio was 30 degrees, you could say it was literally freezing. Or if a novel was translated from Russian to English, you could say it was literally translated from the original.

Today, “literally” has become the linguistic equivalent of a verbal exclamation point, used to add dramatic emphasis with zero regard for its actual meaning. People now use “literally” to mean “figuratively” or “metaphorically,” which are the opposite of literal. Why? Because in this social media age in which everyone’s clamoring for attention, we feel compelled to make everything sound more dramatic than it really is.

You’ve seen this linguistic laziness in social situations, but it’s especially problematic in business situations where you must be concise and precise.

• “They literally devoured the competition.” (Had they adopted cannibalism as a business practice?)
  
• “It literally took them forever to get to cash flow positive.” (No, it did not, because if that were the case you would never stop until you died).

Why you should care

When we strip words of their precise meanings, we reduce our capacity for clear communication. “Literally” used to be a powerful tool for emphasizing truth; now it’s become a meaningless filler word used for more drama. Linguists call these words “intensifiers,” but I suggest you avoid using them altogether.

For instance, instead of saying “I literally don’t care,” just say: “I don’t care.”
Instead of saying “I literally know the solution,” just say: “I know the solution.”

How to use “literally” correctly

Use “literally” only when something is actually true in the most precise sense: “After running a marathon, I was literally exhausted and could barely move my legs.”

Use “literally” when you’re referring to a specific number or fact: “I almost missed the online deadline. I was literally two minutes away from being assessed a late filing penalty.”

Conclusion

Abuse and disregard of “literally” isn’t just a minor grammatical quirk – it’s a symptom of our culture’s love for hyperbole and emotional inflation. Next time you’re tempted to say “literally,” just ask yourself: Did I really? If not and you’re over 16 years old, leave “literally” out of your vocabulary and make better word choices.

What are you and your colleagues doing to be more concise with your language? I’d love to hear from you.

#businesswriting,#thoughtleadership, #productivity