it has literally been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has literally been" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the exactness or truth of a statement regarding a duration or experience. Example: "It has literally been three years since we last met, and I can't believe how much has changed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

On social media it has, literally, been a laughing stock".

The Guardian

"It has literally been ripped up in front of us," he said.

BBC

"In animal models, it has literally been able to protect against every known inflammatory disease, ranging from Alzheimer's to liver disease to atherosclerosis," Murthy says.

Science Magazine

Swatting away the condensation, I remember my shirt: It has literally been cooking for two and a half hours.

Vice

- and Draggin' The Line) and the eight new songs (including Distant Thunder, exceptional because it has literally been 33 years in the making) will primarily employ acoustic instruments, though there will be some electronics utilized to create an edge - interesting sounds and effects - a whole new way of making music for him and his band.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It had literally been in a year's span that my "rise to fame" had happened.

Huffington Post

The challenge is that we don't usually experience Mojo moments as often as we'd like, and if you're going through a tough time, it can feel like your Mojo has literally been sucked out of you.

Huffington Post

"It's very early times for us, but this has literally been decades in the making".

Los Angeles Times

But this guy has literally been jettisoned to the moon.

The Guardian

He has literally been all over the lot on public policy.

The New Yorker

This bag has literally been plucked from the air we breathe.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has literally been" to emphasize a period of time or a situation that you want to highlight as being precisely accurate. This can add weight to your statement, especially when the duration or experience is significant.

Common error

The word "literally" should be used when something is actually true and not for general emphasis. Using "it has literally been" when you mean "it feels like it has been" can dilute the word's meaning and create confusion. Instead, choose a different adverb like "virtually" or "practically" to emphasize hyperbole, if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has literally been" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the verb. It specifies the duration or state of something with an emphasis on its factual accuracy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it has literally been" is a grammatically correct way to emphasize the factual accuracy of a duration or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While sometimes criticized for misuse, when used properly, it adds weight to a statement. It appears most frequently in news and media, and science contexts, indicating a neutral register. When writing, ensure you're using "literally" to describe a verifiable fact, not just for general emphasis, and consider alternatives like "actually" or "truly" if you're aiming for emphasis without strict factual accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has actually been

Replaces "literally" with "actually" to indicate a factual statement, often used to express surprise or confirmation.

it has truly been

Substitutes "literally" with "truly" for emphasis on the genuine or authentic nature of the statement.

it has really been

Uses "really" instead of "literally" to express a high degree of certainty or intensity.

it has effectively been

Replaces "literally" with "effectively" to suggest a practical or functional outcome, even if not strictly literal.

it has essentially been

Employs "essentially" in place of "literally" to highlight the fundamental or core nature of the situation.

it has virtually been

Substitutes "literally" with "virtually" to express something very close to being true without being completely so.

it has practically been

Uses "practically" instead of "literally" to convey that something is true in effect, if not in precise detail.

it has almost been

Replaces "literally" with "almost" to indicate that something is close to being the case.

it has nearly been

Substitutes "literally" with "nearly" to express that something is just short of being completely true.

it has demonstrably been

Replaces "literally" with "demonstrably" to emphasize that the statement can be proven or clearly shown.

FAQs

How can I use "it has literally been" in a sentence?

Use "it has literally been" to emphasize the accuracy of a duration or experience. For example, "It has literally been three years since we last spoke."

What can I say instead of "it has literally been"?

Alternatives include "it has actually been", "it has truly been", or "it has really been" depending on the specific context and intended emphasis.

Is it correct to use "literally" for emphasis, even if it's not strictly true?

While sometimes used for emphasis, using "literally" when something isn't factual can be controversial. Consider alternatives like "virtually" or "practically" if you mean something is almost true.

What's the difference between "it has literally been" and "it has figuratively been"?

"It has literally been" means the statement is factually accurate. "It has figuratively been" means the statement is an exaggeration or metaphor, not based on fact.