• Linguistics and Language -> Grammar and Syntax

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Are there any adverbs that are commonly misused and can completely alter the intended message?

Xander MacMoyer

Well hello there my fellow social media user! It's time to talk about one of my favorite topics: grammar! Don't worry, I promise I won't be a grammar snob, but I do want to shed some light on a serious issue that can completely alter the intended message. So, let's talk about those sneaky little devils called adverbs.

Now, adverbs are those little words that modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. They let us know how something is being done. For example, "She ran quickly" or "He spoke softly." However, there are some adverbs that can completely change the meaning of a sentence if a writer misuses them.

One common adverb that is often used incorrectly is "literally." Many people use it to mean "figuratively," but the two words are actually antonyms. "Literally" means exactly what you say is happening while "figuratively" is speaking metaphorically or symbolically. So, if you say something like "I'm literally dying of laughter right now," but you're actually just giggling, then you are using the wrong word to convey your message.

Another adverb that is frequently misused is "hopefully." Many people use it to mean "I hope" or "I wish," but that's not what it actually means. "Hopefully" means in a hopeful manner, or full of hope. For example, "I look at the world hopefully" is correct. But if you're trying to say "I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow," you should use "I hope" instead of "hopefully."

Some other commonly misused adverbs include "sincerely" and "honestly." We often use these words to convey that we're being truthful, but when used inappropriately, they can come off as insincere or dishonest. For example, if you say "Sincerely, I didn't steal the cookie from the jar," it sounds like you're saying "I didn't steal the cookie" insincerely. Instead, you might change the wording to "I swear to you, I didn't take the cookie from the jar."

Finally, another adverb that can completely alter the intended message is "only." This little word is frequently misplaced in a sentence, leading to confusion. For example, "I only love my cat" versus "I love only my cat." In the first sentence, it means you don't love anything else besides your cat, but in the second sentence, it means you love your cat exclusively, and no other pets.

So my fellow social media user, be careful with your adverbs! Make sure you're using them properly so that your intended message is crystal clear. Because, let's be honest, nobody wants to read a message that says "I figuratively died of laughter."