How to use "literally"

What Does "literally" Mean?

• What it expresses: Precision, exactness, and factuality. It indicates that a statement is true in a strict, non-metaphorical sense. In informal speech, it is also used as an intensifier to express strong emphasis or degree.
• What part of the sentence it typically modifies: It usually modifies a verb, an adjective, or an entire clause.
• Register: Neutral to formal when used to mean "in a literal sense"; informal when used as a figurative intensifier.

How to Use It

• Typical sentence positions: Most naturally used in the mid-position (between the subject and the main verb, or after the first auxiliary verb). It can occasionally appear in the initial position for dramatic emphasis, but rarely in the final position.
• What it modifies and how it changes the meaning: When modifying a verb (e.g., "literally ran"), it confirms the action actually happened. When modifying an adjective (e.g., "literally impossible"), it acts as a booster to the adjective's strength.
• Grammatical flexibility: It can be used in questions and with negation. While it can be fronted (placed at the start of a sentence), this is usually reserved for speech rather than formal writing.
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using it to describe something that is physically impossible (e.g., "My head literally exploded") can be seen as a stylistic error in professional writing, though common in slang.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from literally on Ludwig.guru.

"Directly across the street, until the 1980s, there was a café called A la bonne Santé (literally, "to your good health" – santé means health) where the newly freed men would toast their liberty before drinking themselves dead drunk." — theguardian.com

"The brutality of Isis is increasingly at odds with his own views, which have mellowed with age as he has come to believe that the teachings of the Qur'an can be interpreted and not read literally." — theguardian.com

"We have become suspicious: of their mawkish advertising, of their treatment of farmers, of their desperate bids to package up things that really don't need packaging up at all (I mean this literally and metaphorically, versions of "restaurant-style" dishes being every bit as phoney and wasteful as apples wrapped in too much plastic)." — theguardian.com

"I am literally incapable of hearing the title of Lionel Shriver's most famous novel – published a full two years before Pietersen had even made his international debut – without thinking of radio phone-ins about Kevin Pietersen." — theguardian.com

"Filled with humour and almost real-time practical advice about the weekly price movements of supermarket food, it is a plain-speaking, practical austerity cookery guide – quite literally how to feed yourself and your toddler on £10 a week, in ways that are healthy, tasty and, importantly (to relieve the tedium of baked beans), varied." — theguardian.com

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/literally

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
verbatim	Used specifically for quoting words exactly as they were spoken or written.
actually	A neutral alternative used to emphasize the truth or reality of a situation.
virtually	Used when something is almost true, but not quite in a literal sense.
strictly speaking	A formal phrase used to clarify a precise definition or fact.
plainly	Used to indicate that something is clear and lacks exaggeration.
to the letter	An idiomatic expression meaning to follow instructions exactly.

Common Mistakes

• Register Mismatch: Using the word as a hyperbolic filler in academic or legal writing can undermine the author's credibility.
• Illogical Hyperbole: Learners often use it to emphasize figurative statements ('I literally died laughing'), which can cause confusion or stylistic criticism in formal contexts.
• Redundancy: Pairing it with words that are already absolute (e.g., "literally unique") is often considered unnecessary in formal prose.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
literally	Expresses factuality or emphasis	Neutral to Informal	Mid-position (before verb/adj)

FAQs

Where should I place literally in a sentence for the best flow?

The most natural placement for literally is the mid-position, appearing right before the main verb or adjective it modifies. For example, you should place it after an auxiliary verb as in "I have literally finished," rather than at the very end of the clause.

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How does literally differ from the adverb actually?

While both add emphasis, literally specifically highlights that a description is not a figure of speech or a metaphor. In contrast, actually is a more general adverb used to correct a misconception or confirm a surprising fact regardless of whether the language is figurative.

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Is it wrong to use literally for things that are not true?

Learners often use it to emphasize figurative statements ('I literally died laughing'), which can cause confusion or stylistic criticism in formal contexts. While this hyperbolic usage is common in informal speech, you should avoid it in professional writing to maintain clarity and precision.