this actually helps

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this actually helps" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is beneficial or useful in a particular situation. Example: "After trying the new method, I can confidently say that this actually helps improve productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

According to the IMF this actually helps economic growth.

The Guardian

"They seem to have made the calculation that this actually helps them with their local politics".

The New Yorker

"This actually helps me calm down, coming to a league where I don't really know what anybody's doing," Shoppach said.

The New York Times

"This actually helps the investigation, because you want your witnesses to be credible and you want them to be correct".

The New Yorker

This actually helps to support the false narrative of violent extremism; they want to make the case that America hates you, is against you, join us".

The Guardian

Some Democrats say that this actually helps Mr. Miller in his negotiations with the mayor, allowing him to portray himself as a responsible moderate looking for a reasonable concession with which to mollify the holdouts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Do awards like this actually help to de-beard science?

The Guardian

While the success of the South African campaign is encouraging a new generation of students today to demand that college trustees sell off shares of any fossil fuel companies in their institutions' endowments, will this actually help global warming?

The Guardian

This actually helped my warlike ambitions, since I could tune my government and policies together to supporting those efforts for maximum effect.

TechCrunch

This actually helped me to do better".

Vice

The fact that Atlanta has more offensive weapons this season actually helps Brees as well since this is likely to turn into a shootout.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this actually helps" when you want to highlight a somewhat unexpected or surprising benefit. It's effective for pointing out positive outcomes that might not be immediately obvious.

Common error

Avoid using "actually" excessively in your writing. While "this actually helps" is a valid phrase, peppering your text with "actually" can weaken your writing and make it sound less confident. Consider if "this helps" conveys the meaning effectively on its own.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this actually helps" functions as a declarative statement expressing that something provides a benefit or assistance. Ludwig provides numerous examples from varied sources showing its usage in practical contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "this actually helps" is a grammatically correct and useful expression for indicating a beneficial outcome, often one that is surprising or not immediately obvious. According to Ludwig, it is considered neutral in tone and can be used across various contexts including news media, science, and general writing. While not as common as simpler alternatives, its inclusion of "actually" adds an element of unexpected benefit. Remember to use "actually" judiciously to avoid weakening your writing. Alternative phrases such as "this genuinely assists" or "this is indeed beneficial" can provide a more formal tone when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this genuinely assists

Emphasizes sincerity and effectiveness, slightly more formal.

this is indeed beneficial

Highlights the positive impact with certainty, more formal.

this proves quite useful

Indicates the usefulness has been demonstrated, slightly more formal.

this turns out to be helpful

Suggests an element of surprise that something is helpful.

this aids considerably

Emphasizes the extent of the help provided, more formal.

this truly contributes

Highlights the contribution made, slightly more formal.

this works wonders

Implies a remarkable and almost magical level of effectiveness.

this provides a real advantage

Focuses on the strategic benefit, slightly more formal.

this offers tangible support

Highlights the practical and concrete nature of the assistance.

this gives a boost

Suggests a quick and noticeable improvement, more informal.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "this actually helps" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could use phrases like "this genuinely assists", "this is indeed beneficial", or "this proves quite useful" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to use "actually" in "this actually helps"?

While "actually" can sometimes be redundant, in "this actually helps" it often serves to emphasize a surprising or unexpected benefit. Removing "actually" (making it "this helps") is perfectly acceptable but changes the emphasis slightly.

What are some alternatives to "this actually helps" in casual conversation?

In casual conversation, you could use phrases like "this really helps", "this gives a boost", or "this works wonders" to convey a similar meaning.

How does the meaning change if I say "this helps" instead of "this actually helps"?

Saying "this helps" is a direct statement that something provides assistance. Adding "actually" to create "this actually helps" suggests that the helpfulness might be surprising, unexpected, or contrary to initial assumptions.