Word Meaning Debates
Discussions center on arguments over the proper, literal, or evolving meanings of words, particularly how terms like 'literally' are used figuratively and whether this is misuse or accepted language evolution.
Activity Over Time
Top Contributors
Keywords
Sample Comments
Hundreds of words to say “sometimes people use a term in a different sense from how I use it”.
This is like saying people misinterpret the word "awful" or "literally"
Well, you used a word that already has different meaning.
There's a difference between misusing a word, and a word that has two accepted meanings.
Literally: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Right, because the intended meaning is different than what the words literally say.
That’s not what that word means
I think you mean "against the use of words and phrases", as it is not a misuse to give them their current meanings. ;)
Sometimes people use words and don't really mean what they literally mean.
Just say "figuratively"; they will have swapped definitions.