literally

The word 'literally' weakens prose primarily by hedging. It implies that the writer lacks confidence in the statement's strength or accuracy. This hesitance can diminish the reader's engagement and sense of immediacy. In most cases, removing 'literally' tightens the prose without sacrificing meaning. Before: She was literally shaking with fear. After: She was shaking with fear. Before: He literally jumped out of his skin when he heard the noise. After: He jumped out of his skin when he heard the noise. Before: The cake was literally the best thing I ever tasted. After: The cake was the best thing I ever tasted. In each example, the removal of 'literally' enhances clarity and impact by allowing the strong verbs and adjectives to stand on their own. There are instances when 'literally' can earn its place. In dialogue, characters might use it to emphasize their feelings or experiences. For example, a character exclaiming, "I was literally on fire with excitement!" uses the word to convey an exaggerated emotional state that fits their voice. Here, the word serves a purpose by reflecting the character's intensity. If you delete 'literally' and the sentence still conveys your intended meaning, it was clutter.