Literally

Paula, one good reason for having a pedants' corner is to allow us fusspots to let off steam among ourselves rather than tactlessly correct others' spelling, grammar or vocabulary, in other forums.

Yes, indeed, anno! We all have our little foibles, papaoscar...

Reasonable people (that does not include absolutely everyone ) are very happy to use Pedants' Corner for . . . ermm . . . pedantry . . . where they can dissect language without slowing down the conversation.

Elegran (auto correct changes you to Elegant!)
Are you?

Still wondering what on earth paula 8 might mean by "cute".

Soutra I remember when cute meant sly and calculating - I assume that's what Paula means!

Of course - in Pedants'corner one could not expect less than a precise use of a word.

Or simply "acute" from its origins, meaning sharp-pointed, keenly perceptive, mentally penetrating, etc.

Which all we pedants are, of course.

That literally goes without saying

I don't think there is any question, in Pedants' Corner, of correcting other people (much as we'd like to sometimes!) It is just a place to air views on the use, or misuse of language.

Why, paula is it "cute" to correct other people's errors? Just wondering...

'Cute' used to be an American word. I think the internet has spread its use. In older American novels, 'cunning' is used in the same way. Please can we have a campaign about 'infamous'? Doesn't mean very famous! No, it doesn't! I'm regularly wracking my brains to try to remember what the scandal was about some perfectly upright person or blameless event in the news. Then I realise.

Cute in a derisory sense in this instance, I'm guessing. I expect others are guessing that too.

Which is why people are asking paula what she meant. Does it matter, really?

Boring would be a better word than cute. [yawn]

Mrs Mopp Sadly, no.

(I didn't mean paula was being boring). Just the rest of you

Actually - not crossed out.

(I didn't mean paula was being boring). Just the rest of you

Please excuse me if someone else has already said this, but last year 'literally' was included in the dictionary in its fashionable form ( as an emphasising adjective or adverb?) as well as it's former ,as we would say 'correct' form.
Just as irritating is the constant use of 'like'.

Everything is iconic these days when it really isn't.

I enjoy being pedantic about stuff and having a good old moan- everyone needs a hobby!

LilyG, do you remember Caesar's famous utterance - Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me! as expressed by Kenneth Williams just before they sorted him out in the Carry On film?

Yes, indeed I do, papaoscar!

I fail to understand how literally can mean anything other than, well, literally? It's like saying exactly doesn't mean exactly!
Clearly I am being pedantic but that's what this forum is for.
Did we all go to grammar schools? I think my English Language teachers would be shocked by what's happening to this lovely language of ours. It's being wrecked IMHO.

'Did we all go to grammar schools'? Was that a serious enquiry, mrsmopp?

You pedants all need to get off of youre high horses and let langwidge evolve as it has done over the years threw yousige. their is not nothing to be done about it. Stuff happens and lifes' a bitch! Except for the phrase 'can I get a coffee' when speaking to a barrista ( or a barrister??) which is just wrong, IMHO