"Literal Meaning" and "Literally"

The term "literal meaning" tells us that all words are in strict accordance with their original meanings.

Table of Contents

• Easy Examples of "Literal Meaning"
• More Examples of "Literal Meaning"
• What Does "Literally" Mean?
• Why "Literal Meaning" and "Literally" Are Important
• Test Time!

Many words (e.g., to depart) have a literal meaning (to leave) and a figurative one (to die). To apply the literal meaning is to take the words in their most basic sense, i.e., not in their figurative sense or in any additional meaning.

Easy Examples of "Literal Meaning"

• The comedian died on the stage. (In the literal meaning, the comedian actually died. In the figurative meaning, the comedian struggled to make the audience laugh.)
• We will all be in the same boat. (In the literal meaning, all people will be in a boat. In the figurative meaning, they will all be facing the same issues.)
• I have thrown the proposal out. (In the literal meaning, the proposal paper was physically thrown out of the room. In the figurative meaning, the proposal was dismissed, but the proposal paper stayed in the room.)

More Examples of "Literal Meaning"

• John managed to escape the wolves. (In the literal meaning, John succeeded in getting away from some real wolves. In the figurative meaning, he may have avoided a verbal bashing from aggressive colleagues at a meeting.)

• Can I play outside, grandma?
• You can, dear, but you're not allowed. (Here, grandma is taking the word can in its original, literal sense, i.e., to mean to have the ability to. The grandchild used can in its more recently developed, additional meaning of may or to have permission to.)

What Does "Literally" Mean?

• John literally put all his eggs in one basket. (In the past, the word literally could only be justified if John placed all his eggs in a basket.)

• John really did put all his eggs in one basket [fail to spread his risks].

Why "Literal Meaning" and "Literally" Are Important

(Issue 1) Strive for words in their literal meanings (i.e., avoid figurative language) when writing for an international audience.

• Janet was thrown to the wolves. (Obviously, Janet wasn't thrown to any real wolves. She was sacrificed. Well, she wasn't actually sacrificed. She was abandoned to harm. Well, she wasn't physically abandoned.)

Here's a tip: You're not striving for a text of literal meanings. You're just looking to find alternatives to any non-literal terms that could hinder a non-native speaker's understanding. Saying "Janet was sacrificed" (even though sacrificed is not being used in its literal sense) would be safe.

(Issue 2) Be aware that "literally" literally does not mean literally these days.

• She was literally on fire during her lecture. (This means she put in an excellent performance. She wasn't actually on fire, despite the use of literally.)
• I literally died when they announced my name. (This just means "I was highly embarrassed.")

• Using "literally" metaphorically is literally spreading like wildfire. (Journalist Adam Lewis, The Guardian)

Key Points

• If there are non-native English speakers among your readers, avoid non-literal terms that could hinder their understanding.
• "A literal paradox: 'literally' generally means figuratively." (Dennis Baron, Oxford University Press)

This page was written by Craig Shrives.