Literally: a crutch word.
Some dictionary "trustees" are adding the “non-literal” version of literally to its offerings. Well-known names such as Merriam and Cambridge have followed in Google’s footsteps by including a meaning that goes something like “used to acknowledge that something isn’t literally true but is used for emphasis or to express a strong feeling.”
Your speech literally becomes less effective, as it is literally lost in the usage of tautological repetitive diction. Many basics literally claim that using, “literally” literally strengthens their sentence because it literally puts an extra emphasis on what they are literally saying "literally" happened. Literally.
Tim Racho@timracho 24 May 16 Please stop saying "literally". #thankyou #stopsayingliterally #literally #clutchwords
Rob Graham@ErrataRob 9 Jun 13 Clapper saying "literally gut wrenching" enrages the writing pedant in me #STOPsayingLITERALLY
Becca@radtattooedmom Mar 28 Someone in the breakroom said “literally” 6 times in her short conversation. 6 times!! I literally can’t make this up. 😂 #stopsayingliterally
Rick Sadowski@RickS7 4 Nov 17 There is not a more overused and incorrectly used word as “literally.” It’s driving me crazy — but not literally! Yet. #stopsayingliterally