A 2012 online article by The Atlantic named the word “actually” as the worst word in the English language.
The strongest competing word was “literally” for this dubious distinction.
The reason “actually” won was because it is a sneaky word to misuse compared to “literally”. The most common mistake people make with “literally” is to use it when they mean “figuratively”. A good example is a sentence like “He is literally a pain in the butt.” This means that “He” has assumed the role of a hemorrhoid or another ailment in one’s gluteus maximus area. Using the word “figuratively” gives “He” a more accurate designation, that of a bothersome person. The proper use of “actually” is to use it to correct someone in a passive-aggressive manner. When someone says, “Violets are blue.” for example, the haughty response might be, “Actually, it’s more of a purple hue.” designed to denigrate the first person’s sense of color. There are an almost infinite number of ways to misuse “actually” and the worst offender is John, my HVAC technician. He’ll give me a reminder call when it’s time for my semi-annual cleaning and maintenance. I almost cringe when he says, “It’s actually time for your HVAC tune-up.” When John arrives at my house he’ll say, “The traffic was actually bad and that is why I am actually late.” causing my blood to boil. The only time I like to hear him misspeak is when he is finished with the job and says, “Your HVAC unit actually is in pretty good shape, so I’ll see you in six months.” When I hear that, it is actually like music to my ears because I actually ain’t gonna need no big repair bill.