Sean Hannity spectacularly misuses the word 'literally'

Hillary Clinton election 2016.
(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The word "literally" has gotten quite a few people into trouble lately.

The word technically means "in a literal manner or sense; exactly." You use it to signal that This actually, truly happened and I am not exaggerating. So when Trump spokesman Katrina Pierson said "left-wing reporters … literally" beat Trump supporters, she implied CNN and Fox News were out on the streets with clubs (they weren't).

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.