Actual
Actualis an adjective meaning ‘true’, ‘real’ and ‘the thing in itself’. It does not refer to time.Actualalways comes immediately before the noun it is describing:
We didn’t go to theactualmatch but we watched it on TV.
People think she is over thirty but heractualage is eighteen.
Actualis often used in speaking in the expression ‘in actual fact’. It has a similar meaning to ‘in fact’, but it gives more emphasis to what the speaker is saying:
In actual fact, her health a year ago was much worse.
See also:
In fact
Actuallyas a discourse marker
Actuallyisoften used in speaking as a discourse marker. We use it to indicate a new topic of conversation or a change or contrast in what is being talked about. We also useactuallyto give more detail about a topic. We do not use it to refer to time:
A:I suppose you’re going away this weekend?
B:Actually,I am going to stay at home. I’ve got a lot of work to do on the computer.
[a customer (A) in a large bookshop is asking about books about travel.]
A:Could you tell me where your books on Austria are kept?
B:What kind of books?
A:Well,actuallyI’m looking for a book on skiing in Austria.
B:Er, yes, they’re in that corner over there.
See also:
Discourse markers (so, right, okay)
Actuallyas contrast
We can useactuallyto emphasise a contrast with what is expected to be true or real:
Heactuallyadmitted that he enjoyed it.(He was not expected to enjoy it)
A:Where are they now?
B:They’re very near to your apartmentactually. (They were not expected to be so near)
We can also useactuallyto correct someone politely:
I think ten people, not eight, came to the meeting,actually.
Actualandactually: typical errors
In some languagesactualhas the meaning of ‘current’ and ‘at the present time’. This is not correct in English:
Thecurrentpopulation of the Russian Federation is 230 million.
Not:The actual population of the Russian Federation…
At the present timeshe is working in London.
Not:Actually she is working in London.