Why editors are 'literally' changing the dictionary

[Jazzy]

What is wrong with this quote from football pundit Jamie Redknapp?

"In his youth, Michael Owen was literally a greyhound."

The answer is: nothing. That is because the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary have changed the definition of "literally" - so it can now be used in a similar way to "metaphorically."

Senior OED editor Fiona MacPherson told BBC Radio 5 live's Breakfast: "If enough people use a word in a particular way... it will find its way into the dictionary."

Video

 

[McConnaughay]

Uh-huh, unable to use a word correctly? That's great! We'll redo the word in-order to fit your uneducated specifications!

 

[Evil Eye]

*facepalm*
Though I suppose a dictionary should at least mention that it's a popular word used to mean figuratively.

Uh-huh, unable to use a word correctly? That's great! We'll redo the word in-order to fit your uneducated specifications!

Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[McConnaughay]

Wouldn't be the first time.

It certainly will not be the last, but that doesn't make it right. Don't reward them for their stupidity, rub their noses in it, offer a treat for betterment of knowledge, and maybe they'll learn.

 

[DrLeftover]

Given that, they should also redefine the word "reality" to reflect how it is used to identify certain Television shows.