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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

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

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

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

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

Maybe they're not being literal, Captain Autism.

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

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

I think you may be right Kai.

Ralph Gillions wrote:I think you may be right Kai.

Really?

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

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

Ralph Gillions wrote: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."

Phil Reynolds wrote: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.

Charlie Reams wrote:

Phil Reynolds wrote: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?

Charlie Reams wrote:

Phil Reynolds wrote: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!

Adam Dexter wrote:

Charlie Reams wrote: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" ?

Matt Morrison wrote:

Adam Dexter wrote:

Charlie Reams wrote: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.

Michael Wallace wrote:

Matt Morrison wrote:

Adam Dexter wrote: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.

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.

Clare Sudbery wrote: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.

Jon O'Neill wrote:

Clare Sudbery wrote: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.

Matt Morrison wrote: What, as in "dat cup of tea was totally candles, blud" ?

I love that! xD