literally ask for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "literally ask for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that someone is making a direct or explicit request for something. Example: "If you need help, don't hesitate to literally ask for assistance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If she likes the status, say "truth is, you seem really interesting and someone that is easy to get along with but I don't really know you, want to change that?". if she agrees, you should be able to literally ask for her number and she'll give it to you.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Because there are people in there who are literally asking for death".

The New York Times - Magazine

As Americans dump their S.U.V.'s in droves, Detroit's pained executives might do well to recall that they, quite literally, asked for it.

The New York Times

If people are literally asking for a product en masse, that's probably something a product team in search of a project is going to hang their hat on.

TechCrunch

Not only that, he's literally asking for the black vote.

Huffington Post

But the best part of this song is that they are literally asking for it.

Vice

In fact, this is a move that many corporations have been literally asking for before, during and after Cop 21.

Huffington Post

Some apps (Tinder comes to mind), literally ask their users for a rating at some point during every single use.

TechCrunch

For those of you who are unfamiliar, AMA stands for "Ask Me Anything," and you can literally ask the person anything.

Vice

Such approaches literally ask individuals to "write" their own QOL items at each point of assessment.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

I literally do not ask for much of anything.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "literally ask for" when you want to emphasize that someone is making a direct and unambiguous request, leaving no room for interpretation. It adds weight to the act of asking.

Common error

Avoid using "literally ask for" in situations where the act of asking is already clear and doesn't require extra emphasis. Overusing "literally" can dilute its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "literally ask for" functions as a verb phrase, emphasizing the directness and explicitness of a request. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It signifies that the request was made in a clear and unambiguous manner, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "literally ask for" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that emphasizes the directness and explicitness of a request. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While it's often found in news, media, wiki, and science-related content, overusing "literally" can diminish its impact. When aiming for clarity and emphasizing that a request was direct and unambiguous, "literally ask for" can be a valuable tool. However, consider alternatives like "explicitly request" or "directly request" when emphasis is not essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explicitly request

Focuses on the explicitness of the request, similar to using "literally" for emphasis.

directly request

Highlights the directness of the request, omitting the emphasis provided by "literally".

specifically ask for

Emphasizes the specific nature of the request.

expressly solicit

A more formal way of saying "ask for", adding a layer of formality.

outright demand

Implies a stronger, more assertive request than simply asking.

unequivocally request

Stresses the lack of ambiguity in the request.

plainly ask for

Highlights the simplicity and straightforwardness of the request.

categorically request

Indicates a clear and unambiguous request, often implying a degree of insistence.

clearly request

Focuses on the clarity of the request, leaving out the emphatic aspect.

bluntly request

Implies a direct and possibly impolite way of asking.

FAQs

How can I use "literally ask for" in a sentence?

You can use "literally ask for" to emphasize a direct and explicit request. For example, "If you need assistance, don't hesitate to "literally ask for" help."

What can I say instead of "literally ask for"?

You can use alternatives like "explicitly request", "directly request", or "specifically ask for" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "literally" with "ask for"?

While "literally" emphasizes the directness of the request, some may find it redundant if the context already implies a direct request. Consider whether the emphasis is necessary for your intended meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "literally ask for"?

Use "literally ask for" when you want to highlight that the request was made explicitly and without any implied meaning, especially when there might be a misunderstanding or ambiguity.