she literally said

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she literally said" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that someone has stated something exactly as it is being quoted, often to clarify that the statement should be taken at face value. Example: "During the meeting, she literally said that we need to double our efforts if we want to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Lewis And Dinana said to us, 'Where the fuck have you bitches been?' " Hanley: "She literally said that".

The New Yorker

She literally said, you try doing what I do for a living.

TechCrunch

She literally said, "Pay me 50 euros," and that was that.

Vice

My mom just RUINED my dog and she literally said "he wanted to keep it long on the top" I am devastated pic.twitter.com/pjYuGYNhUm.

Huffington Post

She literally said to the invitation, "Holy shit, the gatekeepers believe that I'm queer enough to give the keynote at the queer conference".

Huffington Post

I asked her why and she literally said:'Wha chu mean, girlfriend?'" - Elise, 22 "I worked with a Trump supporter and once, after a black boy was shot and killed by the police, she asked me 'Why do blacks run from the police and then get mad when they're killed?

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"She literally says thank you," the reviewer told the Christian Post.

The Guardian - Film

On the assumption that the speaker is cooperative, together with background knowledge of her political awareness, the hearer can infer that she does not mean what she literally says, but rather the opposite, that is, that what she wants to communicate is the negation of what she says.

SEP

She literally says things like "We the wicked witches from the East Siiiiiiiiiiide!

Vice

It's unclear who, exactly, the woman was, or why she thought it would be a funny idea or whatever to shove Holgerson while she was literally saying "no," but the Clark County Sheriff's Office has reportedly opened an investigation to decide whether the shove was possibly criminal.

Vice

What am I going to do with my gifted children?' She would literally say that".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she literally said" to emphasize the exact words someone used, especially when the statement might seem surprising or unbelievable without that clarification. This can add weight to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "literally" as a mere intensifier when the statement isn't actually factual or exact. For example, saying "she literally died laughing" is incorrect if she didn't actually die. Use it only when the statement is meant to be taken at face value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she literally said" functions as a reporting clause, often used to introduce a direct quote and emphasize the accuracy and directness of the speaker's words. It clarifies that the statement should be taken at face value. As Ludwig AI points out, this usage appears in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she literally said" is a phrase used to highlight the directness and accuracy of a quotation. While Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, it is important to use "literally" only when the statement being quoted is meant to be taken at face value. Common in news and media, and to a lesser extent in scientific contexts, this phrase helps emphasize the authenticity of reported speech. Remember to avoid overusing "literally" as a general intensifier, reserving it for cases where the statement is, in fact, true in the strictest sense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she actually stated

Replaces "literally said" with "actually stated", softening the emphasis on directness.

she explicitly mentioned

Uses "explicitly mentioned" to highlight that the statement was clear and direct.

she directly expressed

Emphasizes the directness of the communication using "directly expressed".

she plainly remarked

Replaces "literally said" with "plainly remarked", suggesting a straightforward statement.

she verbatim quoted

Implies that her words were repeated precisely, using "verbatim quoted".

she articulated clearly

Focuses on the clarity of her statement using "articulated clearly".

her exact words were

Highlights the precision of the quotation with "her exact words were".

she put it this way

Offers a less formal way to introduce a direct quote, using "she put it this way".

in her own words, she conveyed

Emphasizes that the message is coming directly from the person, using "in her own words, she conveyed".

she conveyed without embellishment

Highlights the lack of exaggeration or interpretation in the statement using "she conveyed without embellishment".

FAQs

How can I use "she literally said" in a sentence?

Use "she literally said" to emphasize the exact words someone spoke, often to underscore the importance or accuracy of the quotation. For example, "When asked about the budget cuts, "she literally said", 'We're broke!'"

What phrases can I use instead of "she literally said"?

You can use alternatives like "she actually stated", "she explicitly mentioned", or "her exact words were" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "literally" to add emphasis, even if the statement isn't factual?

While common, using "literally" to simply add emphasis to a statement that isn't factual (e.g., "I literally died laughing") is often considered incorrect. Stick to its original meaning: to express that something is actually the case.

What is the difference between "she literally said" and "she actually said"?

"She literally said" emphasizes that the exact words are being quoted, while "she actually said" simply confirms that she made the statement, without necessarily stressing the precise wording.