I literally cannot believe it. Did I use the word “literally” in the correct context? Anyone who has any basic knowledge of grammar would say no. Or you might say yes, but then I would say you were wrong. At least up until today.
Dictionaries have begun expanding their current definition of the word (which is ‘without exaggeration’) to include that ‘literally’ can now be used for affect. And no, these are not dictionaries created by random teenagers trying to prove their parents wrong.
Oxford is doing it…
Webster’s is doing it…
Even Google is doing it!!
This is literally insane. Literally.
Emma Watson
Details: Emma Watson is studying English at Brown University, in Rhode Island. During her third year (last year) she did an exchanged at Oxford University so she could study at home.
Miranda Cosgrove
Details: Miranda Cosgrove will be attending University of Southern California this fall after she finishes shooting iCarly. Although she really wanted to go to NYU, she decided to stay in LA so she could continue acting.
Dakota Fanning Read more…
“Woot” is now officially part of the English dictionary. Other new additions include “cyberbullying” and “retweet.”
Some of the new definitions, per the Oxford University Press blog:
cyberbullying: n. the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.
jeggings: pl. n. tight-fitting stretch trousers for women, styled to resemble a pair of denim jeans.
mankini: n. (pl. mankinis) a brief one-piece bathing garment for men, with a T-back.
retweet: v. (on the social networking service Twitter) repost or forward (a message posted by another user). n. a reposted or forwarded message on Twitter.
woot: exclaim. informal (especially in electronic communication) used to express elation, enthusiasm, or triumph.
‘Harry Potter’ star Emma Watson is enrolling at Oxford University, reports CTV.
After quitting Brown University in April, the actress will now study English at the prestigious British university in October.
Watson said she found it difficult trying to juggle filming, modelling and studying at Brown.
“Recently I’ve had so much to juggle that being a student AND fulfilling my other commitments has become a little impossible,” says Brown. ”I’ve decided to take a bit of time off to completely finish my work on ‘Harry Potter’ and to focus on my other projects.”
Now that she has a little more free time since ‘Potter’ filming is done, Brown can focus more on her studies. Since she has lived in Oxfordshire practically her whole life, she will probably find it much easier to attend Oxford as well.
Watson said she underestimated how famous she was at Brown, saying “I was in denial. I wanted to pretend I wasn’t as famous as I was. I was trying to seek out normality, but I kind of have to accept who I am, the position I’m in and what happened.”
Good for her for sticking with school, though. I can imagine how difficult it must be with a full-time career, but she seems smart enough to pull it off.
