Generally vs Actually - What's the difference?
generally | actually |
Popularly or widely.
As a rule; usually.
* 1661 , ,
*
, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1
, passage=He used to drop into my chambers once in a while to smoke, and was first-rate company. When I gave a dinner there was generally a cover laid for him. I liked the man for his own sake, and even had he promised to turn out a celebrity it would have had no weight with me.}}
*{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Michael Arlen), title=
, passage=Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house?; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something?; one generally , however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.}}
Without reference to specific details.
(obsolete) Collectively; as a whole; without omissions.
* The Holy Bible, 2 (w) xvii
(modal) In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.
(obsolete) actively
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)
In obsolete terms the difference between generally and actually
is that generally is collectively; as a whole; without omissions while actually is actively.As adverbs the difference between generally and actually
is that generally is popularly or widely while actually is in act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.generally
English
Adverb
(en adverb)The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond
- During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant
“Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days, chapter=3/19/2
- I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee.
Statistics
*actually
English
Adverb
(-)- Actually , I had nothing to do with that incident.
- Neither actually nor passively. — Fuller.