Why use just one or the other? I literally think Scott is figuratively correct. Maybe even expand it a little bit…During WW II, England was figuratively our literal ally.
Our language is continually degrading, literally. Example: the words “more importantly” are used all the time now, especially by politicians (where it probably is actually correct in this case). “Importantly” is and adverb, not an adjective, and it means something like “in a puffed-up manner”. Of course, someone will say that I wrote this very importantly, and that’s true. Anyway, we should be saying “more important” when we want to tell people that what we’re going to say is more important than what they just said.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member over 3 years ago
Panel 3 may be the truest thing ever said in comics.
Jeff0811 over 3 years ago
Why use just one or the other? I literally think Scott is figuratively correct. Maybe even expand it a little bit…During WW II, England was figuratively our literal ally.
ChessPirate over 3 years ago
Inconceivable. Literally. ☺
Spiffy over 3 years ago
Definition creep is to be expected. What we have these days is Orwellian language vandalism on a massive scale.
Ray*C over 3 years ago
Our language is continually degrading, literally. Example: the words “more importantly” are used all the time now, especially by politicians (where it probably is actually correct in this case). “Importantly” is and adverb, not an adjective, and it means something like “in a puffed-up manner”. Of course, someone will say that I wrote this very importantly, and that’s true. Anyway, we should be saying “more important” when we want to tell people that what we’re going to say is more important than what they just said.
Nancy Simpson over 3 years ago
Adverbs are particularly unstable. (See “absolutely” and “uniquely.”)
MDRiggs Premium Member over 3 years ago
“Unique,” “enormity,” “reticent,” “older,” …. Plus just ugly barbarisms, such as “and/or” and “impactful.”