language crimes

[Englishlanguage]

So I should use actual only if it's clearly opposed to something?
How can I try to generalize to grasp its correct usage?

[Tdol]

'Actual' has a contrastive element to it.

[Casiopea]

So I should use actual only if it's clearly opposed to something?
How can I try to generalize to grasp its correct usage?

It's synonymous with; e.g., the true, real, (i.e., specific) importance (of the matter), as opposed to, say, its general importance.

[Englishlanguage]

Thank you everybody.
I'm sorry I led the thread off topic.

[RonBee]

No reason to apologize. It's an interesting discussion. And it gives people a chance to learn something.

(Nothing is off-topic if it concerns what this forum is about.)

[Casiopea]

Language crimes? What about the way everyone's ripping into Mr EnglishLanguage for something that is perfectly correct common usage?

No crimes were committed, language usage or otherwise.

EnglishLanguage asked if the phrase actual importance was possible or not in a certain context, and to my understanding the responses focused on the function and distribution of that word in that given context.

True, the phrase under discussion is indeed used in both informal and formal situations, not just the one, as mentioned, but context is everything, and that's what the discussion was focused on.

Additions to the discussion on the phrase's function and distrubtion in other contexts is expected, and most welcome, because this is primarily a discussion Form, not an answers Forum. (We have a great deal of respect for one another at UsingEnglish. We strive to express our opinions in a way that generates positive discussions.)