6 Words That Can Ruin Your Sentence - 1

Actually

[ak-choo-uh-lee]

Crutch words are words that we slip into sentences in order to give ourselves more time to think, or to emphasize a statement. Over time, they become unconscious verbal tics. Most often, crutch words do not add meaning of a statement. Actually is the perfect example of a crutch word. It is meant to signify something that exists in reality, but it is more often used as a way to add punch to a statement (as in, "I actually have no idea"). The next word is one of the most chronically misused crutch words in English. Click ahead to find out what it is.

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actually

ˈaktjʊəli,-tʃʊ-/

adverb

adverb: actually

1. 1.

   as the truth or facts of a situation.

   "we must pay attention to what young people are actually doing"
2. 2.

   used to emphasize that something someone has said or done is surprising.

   "he actually expected me to be pleased about it!"

   synonyms:

   literally, to all intents and purposes, in effect;  even, though it may seem strange, believe it or not, surprisingly, as it happens; archaicforsooth "he had actually conspired against his friends"

   • used when expressing a contradictory or unexpected opinion or correcting someone.

     "‘Tom's happy anyway.’ ‘He isn't, actually, not any more.’"

     synonyms:

     really, in fact, in actual fact, in point of fact, as a matter of fact,  in reality, in actuality, in truth, if truth be told, to tell the truth; datedindeed, truly;  archaicin sooth, verily;   rarein the concrete "I looked upset but actually I was terribly excited"

   • used to introduce a new topic or to add information to a previous statement.

     "he had a thick Cockney accent—he sounded like my grandad actually"