I think we all have our opinions about the use of the word literally as an intensifier in expressions where it doesn’t literally mean literally. Personally, it doesn’t usually bother me, so for me there is hardly an ‘incorrect’ use of literally. But there is a type of situation in which the use of literally may seem ‘incorrect’, but maybe isn’t.

Those of you who have seen the show Parks and Recreation are familiar with the recurrent use of the word literally. Rob Lowe’s relentlessly optimistic character, Chris Traeger, is a notorious over-user of the word. It must literally be his favourite in the world.

source: My Work

Indeed, many of his literallys are of the ‘incorrect’ actually-not-literally variety which many usage guides deplore, such as this one:

That literally went on forever. I thought you were never going to stop talking

Obviously, the writers of the show keep putting them in because it’s funny, but I suspect also because they know it annoys the language pedants. But the interesting thing is that many of Chris’s literallys seem justifiable to me, since he often uses them to modify his opinions or feelings, as in this one:

That is literally the best news I’ve heard all day

Here is a compilation of Chris’s literallys on YouTube you can watch. Which are justifiable and which are ‘incorrect’?