Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. Learn More

Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. Learn More

Username

underink

Member Since

March 21, 2007

Total number of comments

1

Total number of votes received

34

Bio

Latest Comments

In actuality, actually

  • March 21, 2007, 8:41am

It's correct because 'actuality' is a noun. For instance, you can't say 'in actually', because actually is an entirely different part of speech. Thus, while the meaning of 'in actuality' and 'actually' might, in interpretation, have the same value or meaning to you, they aren't at all the same grammatically. I'll use an example you're probably more familiar with.

'In actuality' is the equivalent of saying 'in reality'. In fact, that's what 'actuality' means: 'in reality, in existence'. That phrase doesn't bother you, does it? They're both stressing the fact that 'this is how it really is'. Actuality becomes 'actually' the same way 'reality' becomes 'really'. It's really due to preference. 'In realty' and 'in actuality' are a more emphasized form of 'really' and 'actually'.

It's kind of like the concept of wordiness: using more words to emphasize a certain point---more than necessary---where some people might prefer to use a more brief and direct form.

'In actuality' is correct. You shouldn't let it annoy you, just change the wording in your head to 'in reality' or 'actually' if it bothers you.