The first real criticism* many talented writers tend to encounter is "too many adverbs".

"He ran awkwardly." "Sadly, she left the room." "The very spectacular explosion left onlookers gaping dumbly at the tragically disturbing ruins of what was left of the once-bustling city."

I understand this criticism (and have quite a bit to say about it), but right now there is one thing in particular that I have been kicking around in my head lately, and that is my usage of the word 'actually'.

(Tired, to be finished later)

*that is, beyond vague statements of 'that was good' or 'this was bad' or their teachers making ungrounded value judgments about the content of their writing.