by Zoë Pollock
Sarah Miller rages against her least favorite adverb:
People use 'literally' because they feel like all their stories have to be exciting. "I literally had to sprint to my class." Okay, who gives a fuck? "I literally ate the whole hamburger." Again, unmoved. Here's one you hear a lot: "Oh my God, my best friend's apartment is literally right across the street from…" …whatever.
Jen Doll nominates "actually" instead:
While literally and actually can be used interchangeably, actually has a bad attitude. Literally can be mocked and laughed at, because literally almost no one uses it correctly. Actually is more sneaky, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Actually is the word that you use when you're actually saying, "You are wrong, and I am right, and you are at least a little bit of an idiot."