this post was submitted on 09 May 2026
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. No politics
    • If your topic is in a grey area, please phrase it to emphasize the fascinating aspects, not the dramatic aspects. You can do this by avoiding overly politicized terms such as "capitalism" and "communism". If you must make comparisons, you can say something is different without saying something is better/worse.
    • A good place for politics is c/politicaldiscussion
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct and the TOS

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Since it's widely accepted that the word "literally" can be used to add emphasis, we need another word that can be used when you want to make it clear that you really mean "literally" in the original sense.

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[–] kbal@fedia.io 75 points 15 hours ago (5 children)

The word you're looking for is "literally."

[–] breezeblock@lemmy.ca 24 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

Wait until you find out where the word very comes from.

Verily the veritas may surprise you.

Edit: and literally does not even literally mean “opposite of figuratively” — it literally means “by the letter” — as in literature — as any literate person knows.

[–] kbal@fedia.io 7 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I may be a little amused by it, but not verily surprised.

[–] breezeblock@lemmy.ca 4 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Its a very bemusing experience ;)

[–] pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 11 hours ago

I am nonplussed.

[–] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 3 points 9 hours ago

Yeah, literally

[–] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 5 points 13 hours ago

The word they're looking for literally is "literally".

[–] joyjoy@piefed.social 1 points 13 hours ago

Not metaphorically

[–] pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (3 children)

Unfortunately Merriam-Webster disagrees.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 hours ago
  1. Mirriam-webster isn't a great dictionary. It's in the name.
  2. Dictionaries don't say what's correct; only what's popular.
[–] adam_y@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

Dictionary compilation is descriptive, not prescriptive.

They don't "disagree" with anyone. They just report on how words are being used.

You can't get into an argument with a dictionary, no matter how hard you try.

[–] kbal@fedia.io 10 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

If you feel that it's unfortunate, why take their side? I've found that no confusion is caused by using it the correct way. If any might be, it is at least in service of a noble cause.

[–] iamthetot@piefed.ca 7 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Language evolves and, more ever than Merriam-Webster, the speakers and writers get to decide what words mean. While that does apply to you not wanting it mean that, you are swimming against the current in this case.

[–] pmk@piefed.ca 2 points 6 hours ago

Swimming against the current is how all social progress is made.

[–] kbal@fedia.io 2 points 12 hours ago

Right, I'm aware of this and see nothing wrong with it.