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Actually vs Usually - What's the difference?

actually | usually |

As adverbs the difference between actually and usually

is that actually is in act or in fact; really; in truth; positively while usually is most of the time; less than always, but more than occasionally.

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

    usually

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Most of the time; less than always, but more than occasionally.
  • :
  • *
  • *:He and Gerald usually challenged the rollers in a sponson canoe when Gerald was there for the weekend?; or, when Lansing came down, the two took long swims seaward or cruised about in Gerald's dory, clad in their swimming-suits; and Selwyn's youth became renewed in a manner almost ridiculous,.
  • Under normal conditions.

    • Synonyms

    * (most of the time) generally, mainly, commonly, regularly, mostly, on the whole, in the main, for the most part, by and large, most often, ordinarily, wontedly * (under normal conditions) customarily, habitually, wontly, normally, routinely, as a rule

    Related terms

    * use