ENGLISH
REFERENCE

as a matter of fact

fixed phrase.
B1 Intermediate General-service
Definition

fixed phrase. you use this to add more information or to correct what someone else just said.

fixed phrase. a discourse marker used to introduce a statement that provides more detail or corrects a previous assertion. It functions as an adverbial phrase to emphasize the truth of the following statement.


SIMPLE

As a matter of fact, I have met him before.

CONTEXTUAL

I thought the shop was closed, but as a matter of fact, they stay open until midnight.

COMPLEX

The witness claimed to be elsewhere; as a matter of fact, several security cameras captured his presence at the scene of the crime.

Usage

usually placed at the beginning of a sentence or clause to signal a correction or clarification.

Teaching tip

teach this alongside 'actually' and 'in fact' as they are often interchangeable in conversational English to signal a shift in information.

Pitfall

As the matter of fact, I'm busy.As a matter of fact, I'm busy.the phrase is fixed with the indefinite article 'a'; using 'the' is a common learner error.

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