literally incredible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "literally incredible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is so amazing or astonishing that it seems almost unbelievable, while also emphasizing that it is true or real. Example: "The magician's performance was literally incredible; I couldn't believe my eyes when he made the elephant disappear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

This is, literally, incredible.

The Economist

It is literally incredible.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This is literally incredible.

The Guardian - Opinion

The literally incredible collection became known as Beringer's Lügensteine, lying stones.

The Guardian

Most Americans who hear tales from that time find them literally incredible.

The Guardian - Books

Literally incredible – the figures are massively inflated by the fiscal juggling of the giant corporations.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

No sign of it so far, as Ed Balls swings his mallet first with an incredible – yes, I mean literally unbelievable – promise to cut £2bn from schools by axing heads and deputy heads, often the best school talent around.

The Guardian - Opinion

The - literally - incredible tale has been shared hundreds of thousands of times - according to the social listening tool Newswhip was the most viral article in the world Saturday.

Independent

Yet the European Union says it "respect[s] the independence of the Libyan courts"—literally, an incredible statement.The six were arrested on March 7th 1999 on the charge of deliberately infecting 426 children in a Benghazi hospital with HIV, a virus which causes AIDS.

The Economist

They literally highlight these muscles' incredible knack for transmuting the ephemera of mental events into the physical, the visible.

Independent

Taken literally, it is an incredible claim.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "literally incredible" to emphasize the genuine and almost unbelievable nature of a situation, event, or achievement. Ensure that the context supports the use of "literally" to avoid potential misinterpretations of hyperbole.

Common error

Avoid using "literally incredible" when the situation is merely impressive or very good, but not genuinely unbelievable or astounding. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

"Literally incredible" functions as an intensifier to describe something that is both amazing and, in some sense, hard to believe, affirming its factual existence despite seeming impossible. Ludwig AI confirms this usage. The phrase emphasizes the reality of something that might otherwise be dismissed as hyperbole.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Literally incredible" is an adverb-adjective phrase used to describe something that is both amazing and almost unbelievable. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, with a neutral to slightly informal register. While uncommon, the phrase is used to emphasize the truth and astonishing nature of a statement. To avoid misuse, it should be reserved for situations that are genuinely astounding, not merely impressive. Alternatives such as ""genuinely unbelievable"" or ""truly astonishing"" can be used to convey similar sentiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely unbelievable

Replaces "literally" with "genuinely" and "incredible" with "unbelievable" to emphasize authenticity and incredulity.

truly astonishing

Substitutes "literally" with "truly" to highlight the genuine nature of the astonishment.

absolutely mind-blowing

Replaces "literally incredible" with a more emphatic expression, indicating something overwhelming.

veritably amazing

Uses "veritably" instead of "literally" to intensify the assertion that something is amazing.

quite extraordinary

Emphasizes the exceptional nature of something using "quite" and "extraordinary".

positively remarkable

Uses "positively" to reinforce that something is truly remarkable.

flat-out unbelievable

Emphasizes the incredulity of something using a more informal expression.

plainly astonishing

Replaces "literally" with "plainly" and "incredible" with "astonishing" highlighting the clear amazement.

simply astounding

Uses "simply" to suggest the ease with which something causes astonishment.

downright astonishing

Uses "downright" to emphasize how something is completely astonishing.

FAQs

How can I use "literally incredible" in a sentence?

You can use "literally incredible" to describe something that is both amazing and hard to believe, yet undeniably true. For example: "The athlete's performance was "literally incredible"; she broke three world records in one competition."

What phrases are similar to "literally incredible"?

Alternatives to "literally incredible" include "genuinely unbelievable", "truly astonishing", or "absolutely mind-blowing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "literally" to emphasize "incredible"?

Yes, "literally" can be used to emphasize "incredible" when you want to stress that something is not just figuratively incredible, but actually, truly so. However, ensure it aligns with the actual meaning to avoid misuse.

What's the difference between "literally incredible" and "simply incredible"?

"Literally incredible" emphasizes the factual, almost unbelievable nature of something, while "simply incredible" conveys amazement without necessarily implying disbelief. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the truth or just the amazing quality.