The Mistake Native Speakers Make ALL THE TIME

Everyone makes mistakes.

That’s what I tell my Vig Village members.

So relax.

And enjoy the conversation.

However…

I think native speakers should make fewer mistakes.

After all, they’ve been learning the language for a LOT longer!

And here’s a mistake I wish they’d stop making immediately.

LITERALLY INCORRECT

I was watching the news about Iran.

The commentator said, “The air strike was literally a knife in the heart of the leadership.”

No it wasn’t!

In English, we have a lot of colorful expressions.

You can say,

My head exploded.

I’m burning up.

I’m dying of thirst.

The book lit a fire in me.

I’m starving.

I died of embarrassment.

And when you say one of these colorful expressions, we know you’re not really burning or exploding or dying.

Because these are just expressions… figures of speech.

We understand them figuratively.

But add “literally” and it’s no longer a figure of speech.

It means there’s a piece of metal in your chest and it’s time to plan the funeral.

See the difference?

Now go and speak and use “literally” only when you mean it.

Or else, you may drive me crazy.

(Literally or figuratively?)

Cheers,
Mr. Vig

P.S.

Want to understand when to use today’s colorful expressions?

Listen to today’s Atomic Homework.

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