Really

[Ralph Gillions]

Why has the word "really" now become "reallyreally"?
What is wrong with "really" or "very" or "extremely" or ...many others.
(On Saturday Review, Radio4, last night one guest did a "really, really, really, really". Yes truly! Really.)
So how and why has "really" become "reallyreally".
Thanks

[Charlie Reams]

The words "really", "actually" and "very" have little meaning now (if they ever did.) Nevertheless they are sometimes rhetorically useful.

[M. George Quinn]

I feel like I'm being cued to say "really?"

[Ralph Gillions]

And how can people describe something as "unbelievable" when they have just witnessed it?

[Charlie Reams]

And how can people describe something as "unbelievable" when they have just witnessed it?

Maybe they're not being literal, Captain Autism.

[Ralph Gillions]

Aahh!.
That'll be it Charlie.
I should have realised.
*smile*

[Kai Laddiman]

I anticipate Larsen's first post on this thread...

[Ralph Gillions]

I think you may be right Kai.

[Kai Laddiman]

I think you may be right Kai.

Really?

[Michael Wallace]

Really is old hat, it's all about (o) rly(?) now.

[Hannah O]

Ya rly! I don't use really more than once unless I feel it's necessary.

[Phil Reynolds]

Why has the word "really" now become "reallyreally"?

Written as one word like that, I'm not aware that it has. I guess you're referring to the habit some people have of saying "really, really [whatever]". This is just a case of an intensifying adverb being repeated for additional emphasis - like when parents say to their children "if you're very, very good you can have an ice cream". It's perfectly valid English but, as you suggest, it's now overused to the point where its effectiveness is lost.

This applies to many other aspects of our language. Words like "fantastic" and "brilliant" once conveyed extremes of emotional response to objects or events. Nowadays, they can just as often be heard in reply to statements such as, "I've made you a cup of tea."

[Charlie Reams]

This applies to many other aspects of our language. Words like "fantastic" and "brilliant" once conveyed extremes of emotional response to objects or events. Nowadays, they can just as often be heard in reply to statements such as, "I've made you a cup of tea."

Luckily new and powerful alternatives are emerging to take their place, such as "fucking A", "wicked" and "dope-ass", none of which I've ever heard used to describe a cup of tea.

[Phil Reynolds]

This applies to many other aspects of our language. Words like "fantastic" and "brilliant" once conveyed extremes of emotional response to objects or events. Nowadays, they can just as often be heard in reply to statements such as, "I've made you a cup of tea."

Luckily new and powerful alternatives are emerging to take their place, such as "fucking A", "wicked" and "dope-ass", none of which I've ever heard used to describe a cup of tea.

Really?

[Adam Dexter]

This applies to many other aspects of our language. Words like "fantastic" and "brilliant" once conveyed extremes of emotional response to objects or events. Nowadays, they can just as often be heard in reply to statements such as, "I've made you a cup of tea."

Luckily new and powerful alternatives are emerging to take their place, such as "fucking A", "wicked" and "dope-ass", none of which I've ever heard used to describe a cup of tea.

I'm sure I've used wicked to describe a cup of tea, as well as candles!

[Matt Morrison]

Luckily new and powerful alternatives are emerging to take their place, such as "fucking A", "wicked" and "dope-ass", none of which I've ever heard used to describe a cup of tea.

I'm sure I've used wicked to describe a cup of tea, as well as candles!

What, as in "dat cup of tea was totally candles, blud" ?

[Michael Wallace]

Luckily new and powerful alternatives are emerging to take their place, such as "fucking A", "wicked" and "dope-ass", none of which I've ever heard used to describe a cup of tea.

I'm sure I've used wicked to describe a cup of tea, as well as candles!

What, as in "dat cup of tea was totally candles, blud" ?

I think I might start trying to use this in conversation, it's excellent.

I mean it's candles.

[Phil Reynolds]

I'm sure I've used wicked to describe a cup of tea, as well as candles!

What, as in "dat cup of tea was totally candles, blud" ?

I think I might start trying to use this in conversation, it's excellent.

I mean it's candles.

To be on-topic it'd have to be really candles.

[Clare Sudbery]

I like the way the young folk have started to use the word 'book' instead of cool... because book is the first thing predictive text comes up with when you're trying to enter 'cool'. It's totally book.

[Jon O'Neill]

I like the way the young folk have started to use the word 'book' instead of cool... because book is the first thing predictive text comes up with when you're trying to enter 'cool'. It's totally book.

I'm young and I've never said this.

Candles is candles though.

[Phil Reynolds]

I like the way the young folk have started to use the word 'book' instead of cool

I'm young and I've never said this.

Candles is candles though.

Maybe we should instigate 'bell' * as yet another synonym for excellent. Then the ultimate accolade would be bell, book and candles.

* A ringing endorsement. Haha, I am funny.

[Daniel O'Dowd]

What, as in "dat cup of tea was totally candles, blud" ?

I love that! xD