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> Supposedly this has happened with "literally".

Allegedly also with "factoid", which means "something which resembles a fact" versus the misuse of "a small fact".

It's frustrating because it's like watching people declare that aster-oids are actual stars, except smaller. Or that human-oids and andr-oids are small people.



This can be traced to CNN Headline News in 1991, which put "factoid" in common culture.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n13g2Ae1GiU

There it was used to mean silly facts. I'm not sure "small fact" is the common use. I'd say "I had cereal for breakfast" is a "small" fact, but not a "factoid" in that sense.


Finally! Finally I’ve found a fellow factoid correct / original meaning aficionado!

I ceased to die on the hill but it still makes me twitch.


I like to soften the blow by noting at least we can all agree that saying "a factoid is a small fact" is a factoid.




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