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Actually vs Rightly - What's the difference?

actually | rightly |

As adverbs the difference between actually and rightly

is that actually is (modal) in act or in fact; really; in truth; positively while rightly is aright, in a right manner, correctly, justifiably.

actually

English

Adverb

(-)
  • (modal) In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.
    • Actually , I had nothing to do with that incident.
  • (obsolete) actively
    • Neither actually nor passively. — Fuller.

    Alternative forms

    * actially (nonstandard)

    Usage notes

    * In some other languages a word of similar spelling means "now" or "currently"; (e.g., Portuguese "atualmente", Spanish "actualmente", French "actuellement", German "aktuell", Italian "attualmente", Czech ""). This leads many non-native speakers of English to use "actually" when they mean "now" or "currently". * Some commentators have: *
  • remarked upon the irony that this qualifier of veracity often introduces an utter lie;, page 3 and,
    • *
  • noted that in many cases, (term) functions as little more than a vacuous emphatic utterance.ibidem , page 4
    • * In practice, actually and its synonyms are often used to insinuate that the following is either unusual or contrary to a norm or preceding assumption, or to merely preface an overconfident opinion contrasting a previous statement or norm (as per 'vacuous emphasis' note above). : This is actually a really beautiful song. (contrasting opinion) : Actually , I'm not from France - I'm from Switzerland. (contrary from assumption) : At the check-out, the cashier actually greeted me for once. (contrary from norm)

    Synonyms

    * in reality * literally * really * truthfully

    References

    English modal adverbs English words suffixed with -ly

    rightly

    English

    Adverb

    (en-adv)
  • Aright, in a right manner, correctly, justifiably.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1909, author=Sidney Morse
    • , title= An Encyclopaedia of Practical Recipes and Processes , publisher=The Success Company, page=21 , passage=If rightly used, it will save a great deal of money in every household.}}
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 1, author=Saj Chowdhury, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Wolverhampton 1-2 Newcastle , passage=Steven Fletcher headed in for Wolves late on, who were denied a penalty and what appeared to be a legitimate equaliser in stoppage time.
    Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will rightly be aggrieved by those two decisions.}}