--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Literally' - I'm not having it; people…" description: "\"Literally' - I'm not having it; people can't go around saying 'literally.' Otherwise, what's literal? There's not another word for literally: if it isn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/john-cooper-clarke-4797_around_literally-i-m-not-having-it-people-can-t_1981399.png" --- # Literally' - I'm not having it; people can't go around… ![“Literally' - I'm not having it; people can't go around saying 'literally.' Otherwise, what's literal? There's not another word for literally: if it isn't figurative or metaphorical, what is it? It's literal: there's no substitute.” quote by John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/john-cooper-clarke-4797_around_literally-i-m-not-having-it-people-can-t_1981399.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/john-cooper-clarke-4797_around_literally-i-m-not-having-it-people-can-t_1981399.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/john-cooper-clarke-4797_around_literally-i-m-not-having-it-people-can-t_1981399.png) > “Literally' - I'm not having it; people can't go around saying 'literally.' Otherwise, what's literal? There's not another word for literally: if it isn't figurative or metaphorical, what is it? It's literal: there's no substitute.” [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The word “literally” is misused, blurring literal and figurative language, causing confusion. **In simple terms:** People misuse “literally”. Key Takeaway Use words accurately. Themes language communication semantics Mood playful critical Type poetic observational When to use this quote - social media - casual conversation - writing - teaching Key Concepts literal meaning figurative speech lexical drift Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to slang? - How does misuse affect clarity? A Different Perspective Changing habits is hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Literal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literal/) [Literal Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literal-word-1127668/) [Literally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literally/) [Metaphorical Literal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphorical-literal-3384538/) [Otherwise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/otherwise/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Saying Literally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-literally-3384539/) [Word Literally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-literally-2956563/) ## Related quotes > [I have grounded my preaching upon the literal word; he that pleases may follow me; he that will not may stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-have-grounded-my-preaching-upon-the-literal-word-he-that-pleases/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Take God's word literally for what is written - nothing less or nothing more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valencia-mackie/take-god-s-word-literally-for-what-is-written-nothing-less-or-nothing/) [Valencia Mackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valencia-mackie/) > [Every word wants to be taken literally, else it decays into a lie. 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