Thursday, October 02, 2003       ( 9:23 AM ) Lostcheerio   Why do people say "literally" when they are introducing what is clearly a metaphor? I know it is meant as an intensifier. But when someone says, "It was literally a roller coaster ride" I expect them to be on an actual physical roller coaster. And when someone says, "It was literally tearing me up inside" I expect them to have shredded internal organs. Otherwise what the blazes can they possibly mean? Open letter to everyone: Dear Everyone, Please stop using the word "literally" to serve a purpose for which it was not intended. You can indicate the intensity of your feeling in other ways. Try the word "monstrous" or "critically" or gape your mouth open a little bit or slam your fist into your other hand. Don't be irresponsible with the word "literally" or when you really want to communicate that you are actually being torn up inside, everyone will nod sympathetically and no one will call the EMS. Love, The Committee To Protect Figurative Language #

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