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Grammar for Grownups Quiz #48

Basically what I mean: this is hopefully, literally, really, a whacky idea.

Remove four of those adverbs from your day-to-day speaking and you may become mute. Or, you'll begin to sound smarter! I'm talking about "hopefully, literally, basically, really". Remove them from the sentence above and you get: "What I mean: this is a whacky idea". See? None of the meaning is lost; the sentence becomes more direct. The only purpose for these words is to fill space. Remove these adverbs from the following sentences and notice how much stronger the meaning, literally, without these basically, really, extraneous words.

1. Basically, I like your outfit, but the beads are really funky.

2. Hopefully, you'll let me wear them.

3. I'd literally cut off my arm to have beads like that, really.

4. Do you basically think that this is hopefully a really whacky idea?

5. I love you, really. Hopefully, you really love me too. (Oh, the doubt!)

Click here for my answer.

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