Comments on: literally bring networks to their knees http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/ An English language grammar blog tracking abuse of the word "literally" Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:57:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: David http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-36610 David Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:25:35 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-36610 I am bringing wireless to my knees right now (literally), since I'm using a laptop on my lap. Not the sense they meant it, but I could see how the phrase might work. I am bringing wireless to my knees right now (literally), since I’m using a laptop on my lap. Not the sense they meant it, but I could see how the phrase might work.

]]> By: John http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-982 John Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:11:41 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-982 "literally" has been used as an intensifier for figurative expressions since the 18th century. http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002611.html “literally” has been used as an intensifier for figurative expressions since the 18th century.

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002611.html

]]> By: Frank IBC http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-979 Frank IBC Sat, 03 Jun 2006 23:29:03 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-979 Here's one: <i>In October 1929, the onset of The Depression <b>literally</b> killed the sales of all non-essential commodities, and not until the late 1930's did RCA Victor again experience significant sales of phonographs.</i> http://www.victor-victrola.com/ABOUT.htm (2nd paragraph from the end, second-to-last line) Here’s one:

In October 1929, the onset of The Depression literally killed the sales of all non-essential commodities, and not until the late 1930’s did RCA Victor again experience significant sales of phonographs.

http://www.victor-victrola.com/ABOUT.htm

(2nd paragraph from the end, second-to-last line)

]]> By: Robbie Lane http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-978 Robbie Lane Sat, 27 May 2006 11:42:03 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-978 Your blog is beautiful, it makes me want to weep with joy and skip around fields of poppies. We have a small thread on our grammar blog dedicated to the use of the word literally. With your permission, I'll link you on our blog. http://i-care-too-much.blogspot.com/ Your blog is beautiful, it makes me want to weep with joy and skip around fields of poppies. We have a small thread on our grammar blog dedicated to the use of the word literally. With your permission, I’ll link you on our blog.

http://i-care-too-much.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Hazie http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-480 Hazie Tue, 16 May 2006 11:54:21 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-480 Yeah, I've never been to this site before, but the concept isn't exactly hard to pick up. When you say 'literal', you are supposed to mean, oddly enough, 'literal'. The word is descriptive, not emphatic. Even if it was emphatic, it would still be stupid to use it in this way, because the sentence only had one subject so it isn't necessary to emphasise a particular one. Yeah, I’ve never been to this site before, but the concept isn’t exactly hard to pick up. When you say ‘literal’, you are supposed to mean, oddly enough, ‘literal’. The word is descriptive, not emphatic. Even if it was emphatic, it would still be stupid to use it in this way, because the sentence only had one subject so it isn’t necessary to emphasise a particular one.

]]> By: Fitz http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-479 Fitz Mon, 08 May 2006 00:47:35 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-479 @keti: you're new here aren't you. :-) On this blog we argue that using "literally" as an emphasizer undesireable (if not incorrect). @keti: you’re new here aren’t you. :-)

On this blog we argue that using “literally” as an emphasizer undesireable (if not incorrect).

]]> By: keti http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-478 keti Mon, 08 May 2006 00:39:48 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-478 Since, bringing networds "to their knees" is figurative in the first place, isn't this what is actually at issue? for example, if he said, "It will *really* bring b/g networks to their knees", you wouldn't argue that b/g networks couldn't (in *reality*) have knees and thus be brought to their knees would you? so it seems a little silly to complain about what is used as an emphasizer in a phrase that is figurative anyway cheers! Since, bringing networds “to their knees” is figurative in the first place, isn’t this what is actually at issue? for example, if he said, “It will *really* bring b/g networks to their knees”, you wouldn’t argue that b/g networks couldn’t (in *reality*) have knees and thus be brought to their knees would you? so it seems a little silly to complain about what is used as an emphasizer in a phrase that is figurative anyway

cheers!

]]> By: Amber http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-477 Amber Fri, 05 May 2006 16:51:36 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-477 <blockquote>I’m just trying to imagine wireless networks with knees.</blockquote> It could make for a cute cartoon mascot, though.

I’m just trying to imagine wireless networks with knees.

It could make for a cute cartoon mascot, though.

]]> By: Not R http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-475 Not R Fri, 05 May 2006 12:08:05 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2006/05/05/literally-bring-networks-to-their-knees/#comment-475 Perhaps he meant the knees in their performance curves. That would actually even make sense. Perhaps he meant the knees in their performance curves. That would actually even make sense.

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