For example:
* "I literally jumped out of my skin" - This is not literally true. You cannot jump out of your skin.
* "The room was literally bursting with people" - This is also not literally true. The room cannot physically burst.
* "I literally died laughing" - This statement is not literally true. You did not actually die from laughing.
The misuse of "literally"
In recent years, "literally" has become increasingly misused. People often use it as a synonym for "very" or "really" to emphasize a point, even when it's not actually true. This is known as hyperbole.
Using "literally" correctly
To use "literally" correctly, make sure that the statement is factually true and not exaggerated. If the statement is figurative or metaphorical, it's best to avoid using "literally."
Here are some examples of using "literally" correctly:
* "I literally saw a shooting star last night" - This is literally true if you actually saw a shooting star.
* "The instructions were literally impossible to follow" - This is literally true if the instructions were so confusing that they were impossible to follow.
* "The dog literally ate my homework" - This is literally true if the dog actually ate your homework.
In conclusion, "literally" means "in a literal sense" and should be used only when a statement is factually true and not exaggerated.