Okay, this has me wondering if “really” will be the next adverb at which the word nerds will tilt. Does it not derive from “real”, as “literally” derives from “literal”? Real-ly. As in, “something that exists in the real”. Why, then, do we use it interchangeably with “very” and other intensifiers?
Innocent party guest: “I really don’t like this conversation.”
Aggressive party guest: “Why do you say, ‘really’? Would you ever say the reverse, that you ‘virtually’ don’t like something?”
Wisecracking bystander: “Really?”
Word nerd points can be scored anywhere and everywhere!
Thanks!
Yeah, pretty much always.
Okay, this has me wondering if “really” will be the next adverb at which the word nerds will tilt. Does it not derive from “real”, as “literally” derives from “literal”? Real-ly. As in, “something that exists in the real”. Why, then, do we use it interchangeably with “very” and other intensifiers?
Innocent party guest: “I really don’t like this conversation.”
Aggressive party guest: “Why do you say, ‘really’? Would you ever say the reverse, that you ‘virtually’ don’t like something?”
Wisecracking bystander: “Really?”
Word nerd points can be scored anywhere and everywhere!
P.S. K-sky, I’m FB friends with Sarah Miller. I could easily direct her attention toward your post, if you care.
That would be neat, T-Mo. I love the looming “really” horizon.
Whoa! K-Sky gets a shout-out on The Dish! Nice!
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/08/literally-the-worst-word-ctd.html