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Comment by epgui | Hacker News Reader

The issue is the incorrect usage of the word "literal".

But what if he is though? Can’t prove that he isn’t, you just have to have faith.

Turns out exaggeration works by stating things that aren't strictly true. Who would've thought people could be so devious...

"Literally" has always been used figuratively.

https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/25/96439

so many people were misusing the word “literally” the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition expanded to include the “figurative exaggerated” usage of it. So I understand but it’s “technically” correct

From the link in https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400, there's references as far back as 1769 where people were "misusing" the word "literally". It has basically never just meant "literal".

Literally literally means both literally and figuratively.

I’m awed by how many permutations of this comment are possible and how few of those permutations could be considered incorrect.

Okay, okay, I figuratively stand corrected, no need to further downvote! Mea culpa haha. :)

This comment is _literally_ the epitome of hn.

the word has literally been redefined :-/

No, it hasn't, it's pretty much always been used for both (see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400 which contains references to the figurative use as far back as 1769.)

Oddly enough, literal in that context is emphasizing the point instead of… the literal meaning.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com