Spelling.School · How to spell

How to spell actually

What it means: In fact or in reality.

In a sentence: Actually, the cat is sleeping on the couch. ▶

The part people get wrong

Watch for double l, and an unstressed vowel that is hard to hear. Often misspelled as actualy or actully.

Same family: actual, in fact, really, truly. If you can spell one, the shared part carries to the others.

Where it comes from: “Actually” comes from the Medieval Latin word “actualis,” meaning “active” or “practical.” In English, it shifted to mean “in fact” and is now often used in spoken language to gently correct or add new information.

Patterns it uses: The unstressed vowel (schwa)

Try spelling it

You will hear the word and a sentence. Type it and press Enter. Then four more words from the same level, so you know where you stand.

Words like this

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