Since it’s widely accepted that the word “literally” can be used to add emphasis, we need another word that can be used when you want to make it clear that you really mean “literally” in the original sense.

    • howrar@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      16 hours ago

      You know of a word that satisfies OP’s criteria and you’re not going to share it?

      • CanIFishHere@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        14 hours ago

        It’s not just one word. You use the appropriate adjective for the sentence. It’s many words.

        Or just leave out words like literally as they do literally absolutely nothing.

        • howrar@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          14 hours ago

          Obviously, you use the word that expresses what you intend to express. The question is what that word would be when you want to express “literally” in the strict dictionary definition sense without ambiguity.

          • CanIFishHere@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            6 hours ago

            Give me an example where using the word literally makes the sentence clearer. For the most part using the word literally is entirely unnecessary, and provides no value.

            • howrar@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              3 hours ago

              I don’t understand where this question is coming from. The premise of this question is that “literally” is ambiguous. That its meaning is unclear. How does an ambiguous word add clarity to a sentence?