in fact, two meanings???

[ripley]

Hi,
I know that in fact has basically the meaning of actually and it is used to contrast two sentences:

1They think she is John's girlfriend. In fact she is his cousin.

But I read that it is possible to use in fact to link sentences, which are not in contrast with each other. The first sentence makes a general statement and the following ones, introduced by in fact, explain this general statements with more specific ones.

For examples.
2 Vegetables should play an important role in our diet. In fact, they provide vitamins such as .....; moreover they also provide ....and contain few calories.


in this second case the sentence introduced by in fact and the following ones indicate sopecific arguments which support the general idea stated in the first one.

I often use in fact in this way. Am I right?
If not, which connector would be appropriate? ( indeed??? ; I think it has two meanings exactly like in fact....)
Thanks Rip.

[Casiopea]

1. They think she is John's girlfriend. In fact she is his cousin.
2. Vegetables should play an important role in our diet. In fact, they provide vitamins such as . . . ;

To me, 1. is synonymous with in reality, or the truth is, whereas 2. functions like, but is not synonymous with, specifically and moreover.

[ripley]

In the way I usually use it in fact ( 2 sentence) has almost the meaning of for example; that is the concepts which "in fact" introduces are not something in addition to what has been already said, but explain with further details WHat has been said before, that is why the first general statement is true.

I understand you use as a synonim with besides , in addition.
Is my way acceptable? Rip

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by ripley

Is my way acceptable? Rip

Sounds OK to me.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by ripley

I understand you use as a synonim with besides , in addition.
Is my way acceptable? Rip

Nope. I pretty much use it in the same way that you do. 2) sounds fine to me, and 1) sounds a wee bit awkward.