Comments on: literally making a name for himself http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/ An English language grammar blog tracking abuse of the word "literally" Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:59:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Torre DeVito http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-37435 Torre DeVito Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:31:14 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-37435 To clarify: Unlike using "literally" when one means "figuratively" or "metaphorically" or incorrectly using it as an emphatic, the meaning of the piece is clearer by the inclusion of the word, and not obfuscated or cluttered by it. One could almost say that this is being figuratively literal, as opposed to being literally literal. I'm OK with that, and since I'm a word snob, youse guys are just being pejorative! -JK To clarify: Unlike using “literally” when one means “figuratively” or “metaphorically” or incorrectly using it as an emphatic, the meaning of the piece is clearer by the inclusion of the word, and not obfuscated or cluttered by it. One could almost say that this is being figuratively literal, as opposed to being literally literal. I’m OK with that, and since I’m a word snob, youse guys are just being pejorative! -JK

]]> By: Torre DeVito http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-37434 Torre DeVito Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:18:27 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-37434 This usage is absolutely correct, albeit cheesy. It is understood that the metaphor can be taken more literally. The metaphor is that his name will be remembered, taken more literally, his actual name will go down in science. Taken completely literally , he would have made up a scientific name for himself. Making letters out of wood would NEVER be literally making a name for himself, as all he would be making was a name tag. I (figuratively) wince in pain at the gross misuse of the language, but you guys are (figuratively) picking nits. This usage is absolutely correct, albeit cheesy. It is understood that the metaphor can be taken more literally. The metaphor is that his name will be remembered, taken more literally, his actual name will go down in science. Taken completely literally , he would have made up a scientific name for himself. Making letters out of wood would NEVER be literally making a name for himself, as all he would be making was a name tag.

I (figuratively) wince in pain at the gross misuse of the language, but you guys are (figuratively) picking nits.

]]> By: JSA http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36754 JSA Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:37:17 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36754 Although it may an acceptable use of literally, it just sounds too cheesy here. If it were a newscast, there would a hefty silence after and before literally and then the word literally would be said in a fake British accent. Although it may an acceptable use of literally, it just sounds too cheesy here. If it were a newscast, there would a hefty silence after and before literally and then the word literally would be said in a fake British accent.

]]> By: chloep http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36721 chloep Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:41:51 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36721 Oh man, I'm not the only one who is peeved by the misuse of "literally". I love you guys. Now I have to find a blog that tracks the misuse of "ironic". Oh man, I’m not the only one who is peeved by the misuse of “literally”. I love you guys. Now I have to find a blog that tracks the misuse of “ironic”.

]]> By: shreevatsa http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36658 shreevatsa Tue, 20 May 2008 21:00:02 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36658 Nice image (and great blog!) This one is not *as* incorrect as most. Although it is meaningless, they use "literally" to mean "there is some literalness (non-figurativeness) involved somewhere" :) Nice image (and great blog!)

This one is not *as* incorrect as most. Although it is meaningless, they use “literally” to mean “there is some literalness (non-figurativeness) involved somewhere” :)

]]> By: Kat http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36643 Kat Fri, 16 May 2008 12:39:21 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36643 "Making a name" for oneself is a metaphor for making oneself well-known/famous/in the limelight. Fitz is right - doing it literally is, as his example suggests, carving his name out of wood. It does not make sense and is not an acceptable use of the word "literally". “Making a name” for oneself is a metaphor for making oneself well-known/famous/in the limelight. Fitz is right - doing it literally is, as his example suggests, carving his name out of wood.

It does not make sense and is not an acceptable use of the word “literally”.

]]> By: Court http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36640 Court Wed, 14 May 2008 19:18:50 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36640 This sounds pretty acceptable to me. I mean, if there's any literal way to "make a name," this would be it, right? The only problem I see is that he's not making the name "for himself;" it's this Bond fellow making it. This sounds pretty acceptable to me. I mean, if there’s any literal way to “make a name,” this would be it, right? The only problem I see is that he’s not making the name “for himself;” it’s this Bond fellow making it.

]]> By: Fitz http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36638 Fitz Wed, 14 May 2008 17:32:21 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36638 @Kevin: I think it could be argued either way. Personally I think "literally make a name for yourself" doesn't make sense in any way. Unless maybe you were cutting letters out of wood. @Kevin: I think it could be argued either way. Personally I think “literally make a name for yourself” doesn’t make sense in any way. Unless maybe you were cutting letters out of wood.

]]> By: Kevin http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36637 Kevin Wed, 14 May 2008 17:03:30 +0000 http://literally.barelyfitz.com/2008/05/14/literaly-making-a-name-for-himself/#comment-36637 It sounds like they used it correctly. He did make the name, didn't he? It sounds like they used it correctly. He did make the name, didn’t he?

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