Cool MateAs a matter of fact vs Really
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
As a matter of fact
Top 2,000 (common)
Really
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most common: Really
| As a matter of fact | Really | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əz ə ˈmætə əv fækt//🇺🇸 //əz ə ˈmætər əv fækt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Actually or in reality. | very or truly |
| Example | As a matter of fact, I did complete the project ahead of schedule. | I really enjoy going to the beach. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | as a matter of fact, say as a matter of fact, consider as a matter of fact | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important |
| Antonyms | - | seldom, never |
| Common mistakes | Used too often in casual conversation; it sounds better in formal contexts., Confused with 'in fact', which can have a similar meaning but is less emphasized. | Using it in place of 'real' when describing a noun., Confusing it with 'really' in terms of degree, e.g., 'really good' instead of 'very good'. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase to emphasize the truth of a statement. It’s appropriate in both written and spoken contexts but may feel more formal in casual conversations. | Used to emphasize an adjective or another adverb. It can be informal in casual conversations but is accepted in most contexts; avoid overusing it in formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: As a matter of fact vs Really
What's the difference between As a matter of fact and Really?
As a matter of fact: Actually or in reality. Really: very or truly
Which is more common: As a matter of fact and Really?
Really is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
As a matter of fact: As a matter of fact, I did complete the project ahead of schedule. Really: I really enjoy going to the beach.
Can I use As a matter of fact and Really interchangeably?
Not always. As a matter of fact and Really are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.