Was (...) actually - wasn't (...) actualy (...) was it?

[dearsei]

Hello,

I am struggling with this one particular sentence:

After all, was the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world based on the olive oil, actually?


Well, I just feel there is something wrong in it.

Should I write:

After all, wasn't the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world actually based on the olive oil, was it?

Or, should I write:

After all, was the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world actually based on the olive oil?

Thank you

 

[Tarheel]

Hello,

I am struggling with this one particular sentence.


After all, was the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world based on the olive oil, actually?

Well, I just feel there is something wrong with it.

Should I write:

After all, wasn't the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world actually based on the olive oil, was it?

Or, should I write:

After all, was the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world actually based on the olive oil?

Perhaps:

Was the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world based on olive oil?

Or:

Wasn't the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world based on olive oil?

The two sentences are quite different, but since I don't know the context I don't know which fits.

 

[dearsei]

Hi Tarheel,

thank you for the response. The paragraph goes like this:

"When Tom Mueller, The New Yorker’s reporter, exposed in 2007 the olive oil industry as boldly corrupted, it was clear that we all have a problem now. After all, was the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world based on the olive oil, actually? Well, that’s a bummer."

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

After all, wasn't the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world based on olive oil?

It is clear now that he wasn't really asking a question. That is, he was asking a question, but he wasn't expecting an answer.

I don't know what the problem with the olive oil was, but that's the concern.

That one likes to use certain words for no particular reason. (For example, "actually".)

 

[dearsei]

After all, wasn't the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world based on olive oil, actually?

I am wondering about that "actually". Is it proper to use it like in the sentence above? Can we emphasis a sentence with "atually", actually? Or is just useless form?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hello,

I am struggling with this one particular sentence:

After all, wasn't the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world actually based on [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] olive oil[STRIKE], actually[/STRIKE]?

Well, I just feel there is something wrong in it.

Should I write:

After all, wasn't the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world actually based on [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] olive oil[STRIKE], was it[/STRIKE]?

Or, should I write:

After all, wasn't the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world actually based on [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] olive oil?

Thank you.

You're welcome!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

After all, wasn't the culinary renaissance that was sweeping across the world actually based on olive oil[STRIKE], actually[/STRIKE]?

I am wondering about that "actually". Is it proper to use it like I did in the sentence above? Can we actually emphasis a sentence with "atually"[STRIKE], actually[/STRIKE]? Or is just useless [STRIKE]form[/STRIKE]?

It's not useless.

But the word does not add emphasis. It adds reality. Examples:

- Me: The culinary renaissance was based on lard.
- You: Actually, it was based on olive oil.

- You: I never expected to win the gold medal.
- Me: And you did! You actually won!

 

[dearsei]

[

Thank you Charlie.

However, what about this.

- Did Jeff wash the dishes?
- Well, it was Mark, actually!

The analogy here is the phrase "well, Hove actually".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

[

Thank you Charlie.

However, what about this?:

- Did Jeff wash the dishes?
- Well, it was Mark, actually!

That's fine. Or you could say, "It was actually Mark" or "Actually, it was Mark."

The analogy here is the phrase "Well, Hove actually".

I don't understand that phrase. Hove actually — what?

Putting "actually" at the end of a very short sentence works. At the end of a long sentence, it can sound unnatural. "Actually" is a weak word, and it's usually better to end sentences with strong words.

 

[dearsei]

Putting "actually" at the end of a very short sentence works. At the end of a long sentence, it can sound unnatural. "Actually" is a weak word, and it's usually better to end sentences with strong words.

I see. Thanks.

Regarding the phrase. It originated in UK in a place called Hove, that now constitutes together with Brighton one city, yet not so long ago the two were still separate entities. "Hove, actually" was a humorous reply made by Hove's residents, when asked if they live in Brighton.

https://jindesigns.com/blogs/latest-news/the-story-behind-hove-actually

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I see. Thanks.

Regarding the phrase. It originated in UK in a place called Hove, that now constitutes together with Brighton one city, yet not so long ago the two were still separate entities. "Hove, actually" was a humorous reply made by Hove's residents, when asked if they live in Brighton.

https://jindesigns.com/blogs/latest-news/the-story-behind-hove-actually

With a comma after Hove, it makes sense. What you wrote in post 8 was "Well, Hove actually." So I wondered: Hove actually what?

 

[Tarheel]

Try:

A: Did Jeff wash the dishes?
B: No, Mark did.

Some people apparently think "actually" is so wonderful that they use it as often as possible. I do not share that view.