Things From the Past May Get Dredged Up Again Both Literally and Figuratively Meaning

Literally vs. Figuratively: The Facts on Differences and Utilize

The word literally often shows up when the speaker ways figuratively. Both words are adverbs, and both are ofttimes found around mutual expressions and sayings. So why do grammar sticklers blench when they're used incorrectly? Keep reading to larn the difference between literally vs. figuratively and when you should utilise each word in oral communication and writing.

figuratively versus literally

Literally: When Something Actually Happened

The adverb literally ways "exactly true," or that something actually happened, without exaggeration. If you say it takes "literally ii minutes" to get in at a destination, you don't mean "a short amount of fourth dimension" — y'all mean precisely ii minutes.

Boosted examples of literally in a sentence include:

• My grandmother is literally my last living relative. (In that location is no one else related to you.)
• Kendra has literally lived in New Bailiwick of jersey for her entire life. (She has never lived anywhere else.)
• We demand to go shopping because we accept literally no food in the fridge. (The refrigerator is completely empty.)

Literally in these cases helps readers to know that you lot're not exaggerating what you're saying. It too helps when your statement appears to exist an idiom or mutual expression, just it'southward actually true. For example:

• Twelve limes cost ten cents; they're literally a dime a dozen. (The idiom "dime a dozen" ways "very common," simply here it only means ten cents for twelve limes.)
• Patty literally has sticky fingers afterward every repast. (The idiom "sticky fingers" means "steals a lot," but here it only means "fingers with food residue.")
• The baby had a fever yesterday, simply today he is literally as cool equally a cucumber. (The idiom "as cool as a cucumber" means "relaxed," but here it ways "not warm.")

In these cases, literally lets the reader or listener know that you're not using a metaphor. Yous want them to use the bodily, non-metaphorical meaning of the words you're using. The primary divergence betwixt literally and figuratively is that literally basically means "not figuratively."

Figuratively: When Something Metaphorically Happened

Figuratively is also an adverb, but it relates to figurative language. It refers to the metaphoric and non-literal meaning of words. For example:

• I hope to come across y'all over again, figuratively speaking. (You want to see the person again, but not literally run into them.)
• When it rains, it pours — more than figuratively than literally in California. (A lot of events oft come at once, but information technology's not literally raining very much in California).
• That detective is a hard nut to cleft, figuratively speaking. (It's hard to figure the detective out.)

You only need to utilize the word figuratively if there is a risk of your reader or listener accidentally taking you literally. Most idiomatic expressions are and so mutual to the English language that you lot don't need to clarify that you lot're using them figuratively. For case:

• My male parent doesn't want to admit that the car dealer sold him a lemon. ("Lemon" is a term for a car that doesn't work well.)
• Fiona really twisted my arm to get me to bring together the team. ("Twisted my arm" means "convinced me.")
• I'm sorry, that name actually doesn't ring a bell. ("Doesn't band a bell" ways "I don't recognize it.")

If yous add literally to these sentences, you completely change their pregnant. For example, the car dealer literally selling a lemon means he's selling a piece of fruit, not a junky auto. That'due south why knowing how to use figuratively vs. literally is important.

Incorrect Uses of Literally

If y'all ask strict grammarians or gorging readers about their grammar pet peeve, almost will probably say "using literally incorrectly." While it has become common to use literally in a figurative sense, grammar sticklers still consider that there are 3 main ways people use literally incorrect — when they're using it in an idiomatic expression, when they are exaggerating and when they're using information technology as an intensifier.

Incorrect: Literally in Idiomatic Expressions

The nearly common misuse of literally occurs when people are using idioms. If you accept out literally from these sentences, they work equally mutual expressions.

• Incorrect - I literally died laughing. (You didn't really die.)
• Right - I died laughing. (It's an expression; y'all laughed a lot.)
  

Incorrect: Literally in Exaggerations

Exaggerations, likewise known equally hyperboles, are another form of figurative language. People often utilize literally to emphasize their point, just it's wrong when that point is exaggerated.

• Incorrect - There were literally a million birds in the sky. (If yous didn't count up to ane meg birds, at that place aren't literally a million of them.)
• Right - In that location were a million birds in the heaven. (Information technology'south an exaggeration; there were a lot of birds in the sky.)
  

Wrong: Literally as an Intensifier

Y'all'll as well discover that people use literally to mean "very." This usage typically appears alongside superlative adjectives when someone is making a strong point.

• Incorrect - This is literally the best sushi I've always had. ("Best" is already a elevation adjective.)
• Right - This is the best sushi I've always had. (Your point is made without literally.)

As you can see, the solution to all of these misuses is to remove the word literally. When in doubt, not using the word is your best solution.

Both Literally and Figuratively

Writers savor idiomatic phrases that work both literally and figuratively in a judgement. That ways they actually happened, and the metaphorical meaning applies besides. You may see "figuratively and literally" used in these instances, which include:

• Don't accept such big bites of that burger; you've bitten off more than you can chew, literally and figuratively.
• Julius Caesar was literally and figuratively stabbed in the back by Roman Senators.
• Charlotte was hiding the kitten in her backpack, only now information technology was time to literally and figuratively let the cat out of the bag.
• I was supposed to nowadays my projection next, but when the luncheon bell rang, I was both literally and figuratively saved by the bong.

It takes a strong knowledge of English idioms to use these double meanings. But if y'all can get it right, they add a lot of depth to your writing.

Information technology's (Figuratively) a Headscratcher

If yous're torn about using literally vs. figuratively, simply consider whether the upshot really happened. Because literally is used incorrectly so often, it'due south a good rule of thumb to only use information technology when you want someone to know that you're not speaking figuratively. Clear up more confusing grammar differences with an explanation of alright vs. all right. You tin can besides become a grammer master with this easy trick for using who vs. whom.

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Source: https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/vs/literally-vs-figuratively-facts-differences-use

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