You're right. I literally hear the word a million times a day. I literally hit myself every time I read someone use it wrong. It literally makes me want to cry.

(oh, I'm just teasing. Though sometimes I do use literally in the wrong definition.)

Literally! I also don't like the use of the word "Umm" in the beginning of people's sentences when their trying to be a smartass. 

(Jk, jk!) xD

“My jaw literally hit the floor.”

“I literally died laughing.”

“The media is literally on the war path.”

Actually, based on one of the definitions from the latest revisions in the Mirriam-Webster dictionary, the use of "literally" IS considered correct here.

2:  in effect :  virtually <will literally turn the world upside down to combat cruelty or injustice — Norman Cousins>

Is it oxymoronic? You could say so. But here's the thing. The English language isn't pure, and "improper use" is nonsensical in a loose language like English. Like what another user said to you two weeks ago, it constantly evolves and incorporates other meanings. English is full of idioms, jargon, colloquialisms, slang, and other colorful stuff. Without it, the language would've literally been buried six feet under long before any of us were born.

Is it oxymoronic? You could say so. But here's the thing. The English language isn't pure, and "improper use" is nonsensical in a loose language like English. Like what another user said to you two weeks ago, it constantly evolves and incorporates other meanings. English is full of idioms, jargon, colloquialisms, slang, and other colorful stuff. Without it, the language would've literally been buried six feet under long before any of us were born.

I have heard this argument before. I think it's a poor excuse for bad grammar. If we don't have language then we don't have much of anything. We will be reduced to grunts and hand gestures. We won't be able to communicate complex ideas. We won't be able to record our histories. We have to stop the dumbing down of society.

I literally say "literally" too much. Literally.

Why does it matter? You're implying that people don't make a load of grammatical errors as is - dude, if people saying "literally" as a way to accent their statement is going to bother you enough to have you write an essay on why it's wrong and no one should do it, you'd have a mental breakdown if you came here to Texas. 

I'll write down, word for word, a conversation I had with my grandma this morning:

"Riley! The lawn needs mowin' tomorrow. The grass is gettin' to be too high."

"I don't got no time for none of that, grandma! It's gonna be a Saturday and I'm gonna enjoy myself before I gotta get back to school in a couple of months!"

"Riley, ain't no need in arguin' with me. You're the one who said he was wantin' to make a little bit of money to put toward them ponies you got plastered all over this here room. If you don't wanna mow tomorrow, that's fine, but don't you come crawlin' up to me askin' me to give you the time to mow if you ain't gonna do it tomorrow."

"Dammit, grandma. Fine, but I ain't gonna enjoy it none."

This state would kill you. Especially when you hear how thick the accents we have are.

Again, don't expect people to take this literally - it's really just a pet peeve that isn't really problematic to anyone but you. Just don't use it yourself - we all have pet peeves, but most of them there's no point in trying to change

I have heard this argument before. I think it's a poor excuse for bad grammar. If we don't have language then we don't have much of anything. We will be reduced to grunts and hand gestures. We won't be able to communicate complex ideas. We won't be able to record our histories. We have to stop the dumbing down of society.

That kind of mentality is fear-mongering, and that'll only get people to ignore you. Even as the loose rules of English changes, the same goes for the stronger rules of grammar. The ability to critically think won't devolve, and claiming otherwise is completely ridiculous.

Blah googy bleew. Oh, sorry, I'm just evolving the English language. It's not my fault you don't understand. Urgh grrmm mmmph

Blah googy bleew. Oh, sorry, I'm just evolving the English language. It's not my fault you don't understand. Urgh grrmm mmmph

Qiviut is correct. The language the population of a country speaks serves them, not the other way around. If the people evolve so does the language.

New words and phrases develop and the meaning of words change too. Thats how it has always been in linguistics.

Trying to purify a language has no use, the language has to fit to the people that speak it.

Trying to purify a language has no use, the language has to fit to the people that speak it.

So what does it say about the people who speak it if they can't follow simple rules of grammar? There comes a point when a person thinks he is saying one thing, but is in fact saying something else. Languages conveys information, information follows logic. For example, there is a big difference between: "Not all dogs are brown," and "All dogs are not brown." It is faulty to state that language can morph into something arbitrary. 

Okay, now this is coming from a guy whose native language is German. When I look at English, the biggest difference in comparison to German is... the, um, precision. Language is a tool for communication. But what's the point when you're not actually improving it? I don't say language can't change; of course it does. But multiple meanings for the same word is just one additional thing to make everything more simple at first, but even more complicated in the end. That's my honest opinion on that matter.

At the same time, I like English for being so charmingly and weirdly flexible. Yet, sometimes, it's actually quite difficult to understand some things, especially because of things like this whole literally-thingy here.

This is a battle that was started long before you posted this, and let me be the one to tell you... Give up. xD

I admit, people using "literally" so liberally is a peeve of mine. If I catch myself doing it (which is rare) or hear someone else say the phrase, I might turn it on its head and add, "or figuratively, as the case may be," or "as opposed to figuratively the worst day of your life."

Okay, now this is coming from a guy whose native language is German. When I look at English, the biggest difference in comparison to German is... the, um, precision.

I enjoy German for its precision, even if I only know a few words and phrases. Chances are German words will tell you exactly what is being described. It's wonderful.

Great song but you especially want to see 2:45