How to Use "Actually" to Correct Someone Politely

Описание: ① About This Lesson

Have you ever corrected someone in English and the conversation suddenly felt awkward?

Many English learners say “You are wrong.”
Grammatically, it is correct — but socially, it sounds aggressive.

In this episode of Talk Lisa, Lisa and Paul teach you how native speakers really disagree. You will learn how to use the word “actually” as a polite correction tool, how to soften your opinions, and how to avoid embarrassing communication mistakes in real conversations.

By the end of this lesson, you will know how to:

Correct someone gently

Disagree without starting an argument

Sound friendly and natural in English

Speak professionally in meetings

This is not just grammar — this is real communication.

② What You’ll Learn

In this full conversation lesson, we cover:

• Why “You are wrong” sounds rude in English
• The polite correction formula: Well + Actually + I think
• The correct pronunciation of actually (ak-chuh-lee)
• The difference between actually and currently (a very common mistake)
• How to politely correct friends, coworkers, and even your boss
• Business English phrases like “I was under the impression that…”
• How native speakers use “actually” for surprise and soft refusal

You’ll also learn several natural buffer phrases:

“If I remember correctly…”

“I might be mistaken, but…”

“To be honest…”

“As a matter of fact…”

③ Why This Matters

Speaking English fluently is not only about vocabulary and grammar.
It is also about social intelligence.

In English-speaking cultures, direct correction can make people feel embarrassed. Native speakers soften their language to “save face” and keep conversations comfortable.

After watching this lesson, you will be able to communicate clearly without sounding rude, arrogant, or aggressive.

This is especially important for:

job interviews

business meetings

international friendships

workplace communication

④ Practice Challenge

Write your answer in the comments:

Part 1: Politely disagree with this sentence

“Learning English is impossible.”

Start with: “Well, actually…”

Part 2: Tell us about your life right now
Start with: “Currently, I am…”

We read your comments and help correct them!

⑤ Useful Expressions From the Video

Well, actually…

I think…

If I remember correctly…

I might be mistaken, but…

I was under the impression that…

To be honest…

As a matter of fact…

⑥ Timestamps

0:00 – The rude mistake
1:30 – Why “You are wrong” sounds aggressive
4:30 – The meaning of “actually”
8:15 – Pronunciation: ak-chuh-lee
12:00 – Polite correction formulas
16:30 – Real conversation example
23:00 – Actually vs Currently
31:30 – Using actually for surprise
36:00 – Correcting your boss professionally
43:00 – Review and speaking challenge

⑦ Support the Channel

If this lesson helped you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share with a friend who is learning English.
Your support helps Talk Lisa create more real-life English conversations every week.

Tags

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