exactly in fact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exactly in fact" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used to emphasize the truth or accuracy of a statement, but it is often better to choose a more concise expression. Example: "The results of the experiment were exactly in fact what we had predicted."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is exactly, in fact, the kind of thing Trump once said should be unacceptable for a U.S. president.

The Washington Post

It may be that the most important aspect of "Le Catalogue Goering" is not anything new that it offers, exactly; in fact, what it tells us is about how much is still to be known — the questions we have not yet learned to ask.

The New Yorker

MG : Exactly, in fact I'd go even further than that.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

You don't have to follow all of them exactly - in fact, some of them can just be omitted if you don't need them for the kind of music you play.

WikiHow

Exactly what, in fact, Dr Gibson and Dr Mace observed.

The Economist

Grade: C- Self-Knowledge "If only Neil knew then what he knows now…" But exactly what, in fact, does Neil really know about anything?

The New York Times

Exactly 40 years ago, in fact, on St. Stephen's Day 1978, I was staring into a fire at a beach house in Atlantic City with some friends.

The New York Times

It's not exactly undiscovered — in fact, the owner, Armando Balestrazzi, will happily show off his book of press clippings — but because of the time of year, Ghigo and I had our own private olive oil tasting and lesson on the process.

The New York Times - Travel

Note that backbone flexibility is not exactly conserved; in fact there are many local differences within Fig. 8.

Chemistry Central Journal

The structure of that newsroom isn't exactly traditional — in fact, starting today, Slant is open to anyone who wants to write an article for the site.

TechCrunch

At $349 it's not exactly cheap — in fact, it's about twice what the Osmo Mobile 2 is currently going for on Amazon.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone. "Exactly in fact" can sound somewhat formal or emphatic. Ensure it fits the overall tone of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "exactly in fact" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. This can make your writing sound repetitive and unnatural. Vary your phrasing to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exactly in fact" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to provide emphasis or clarification. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in reinforcing the accuracy or truth of a statement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exactly in fact" is used to add emphasis and clarify a statement's accuracy. While grammatically acceptable, it's not very common and, according to Ludwig AI, might sound awkward. It functions as an adverbial phrase. The usage is relatively rare, mainly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. It's crucial to consider the tone when using it, as it can sound formal. Simpler alternatives like "actually" or "indeed" may often be preferable for a smoother, more concise style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

actually

This is a simpler, more direct way to convey the same meaning, omitting "exactly" and "in fact" for brevity.

precisely in actuality

Replaces "exactly" with "precisely" and "fact" with "actuality", maintaining a formal and emphatic tone.

indeed

A concise and formal confirmation or emphasis, replacing the combined phrase with a single word.

absolutely in reality

Substitutes "exactly" with "absolutely" and "fact" with "reality", emphasizing certainty and truth.

in reality

Focuses on the truth aspect, removing the exactness component of the original phrase.

literally in truth

Replaces "exactly" with "literally" and "fact" with "truth", adding a sense of strict accuracy and honesty.

to be exact

Switches the focus to providing a precise detail or clarification.

veritably in deed

Uses more archaic terms like "veritably" and "deed" to replace "exactly" and "fact", creating a highly formal tone.

specifically

Highlights a particular detail, foregoing the general assertion of "in fact".

in point of fact

Reorders the phrase and uses "point of fact" instead of just "fact", slightly altering the emphasis.

FAQs

How can I use "exactly in fact" in a sentence?

You can use "exactly in fact" to emphasize the truth or accuracy of a statement, for example: "The results were, exactly in fact, what we expected."

What can I say instead of "exactly in fact"?

You can use alternatives like "actually", "indeed", or "in reality" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "exactly" or "exactly in fact"?

"Exactly" is generally more concise and often preferred. "Exactly in fact" can add emphasis but may sound redundant in some contexts. Consider if the extra emphasis is necessary.

Which is correct, "exactly in fact" or "in fact exactly"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "exactly in fact" is more common. "In fact exactly" can sound slightly awkward to some native English speakers.