conuly

It is incredible how incredible he is!

*laughs at bad joke*

All joking aside, I have a question. Most people (and this includes me) dislike the more figurative use of the word "literal" as an intensifier. If you're standing here talking to me, you didn't literally die of shock.

And no, I don't especially care in an emotional way that it's been used that way for a few hundred years. I care in a less-deep-seated way - keeps me from complaining about it out loud - but really, it's one of those facts nobody really believes.

But nobody minds the use of incredible as a similar intensifier, or unbelievable. "That jump was unbelievable!" "That movie is just incredible!" Really? The movie is completely false but purporting to be true? You don't believe the jump was made?

Why is this?

(Incidentally, I read a comment lately complaining about how some people use y'all in the singular, and "all y'all" in the plural. "That's just not right!" While I agree it grates on my ears, it's no more "not right" than using you in the singular. And if y'all is acceptable, youse and you'uns and yinz ought to be as well. Less hypocrisy, more thought, mmmmkay?)