What actually is the most over used word in the English language? You actually guessed it: Actually.
Actually is everywhere. I was just reading a technical document and found it several times in one paragraph. It reads:
“This product will actually use a number of these properties…, … you can actually define many items….”.
Next paragraph:
“….. you can actually define…. Our connection is actually made up of a number of properties….. SharePoint will actually use a number of these properties….
Are all those actuallys necessary? To me the sentences read much better without them:
“This product will use a number of these properties…., … you can define many items…
“…. you can define many items…. Our connection is made up of a number of properties….. SharePoint will use a number of these properties….”
Why such overuse of the word? I belive there are two reasons.
First, marketers, especially in technical fields, in an attempt to bolster the credibility of their product, often cram far more words than necessary into instructions and product documentation, and, by far, the word most commonly used to emphasise the obvious, and to add length (which is often misconstrued as substance), is the word “actually”. We, as a society, are gullible to quanity over quality, we mistake more for better and mistake substance for quality.
The second reason, I belive, stems from the fact that the lines between reality (actual reality) and virtual reality are are becoming blured. Therefore the following conversation may ensue:
“I went to Spain.” Jane says.
Tom, with a puzzled look on his face thinks “Did she actually go to Spain or virtually, such as in a video game?”
Jane, seeing Tom’s confusion, feels the need clarify by saying “I actually went to Spain!”.
Tom now knows she is not referring to the virtual word but to the actual world.
The pervasive use of actually seems to precede verbs. He ran to the store becomes He actually ran to the store. She won the game becomes She actually won the game.
So keep an eye out for the most overused word in the english language; you’ll actually be amazed by how many times you actually find it!