For real means “seriously?” or “really?” in a question, and “seriously, properly” in a statement. People ask For real? when news is hard to believe, and this time it's for real means “this time it's actually happening”. But Are you for real? about the person you're talking to sounds like “are you kidding me?”: people say it in reaction to rudeness or something strange someone has done.
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For real?; be for real; Are you for real?; do something for real this time
- You got the job in London? For real? That's amazing news!
- We've postponed the trip twice, but this time we're going for real.
- Are you for real? You borrowed my laptop and didn't even charge it.
What changed
First versionThis time I'm going to quit smoking really.
RevisionThis time I'm going to quit smoking for real.
It's tempting to put really at the end. But really after the verb at the end of the sentence sounds unnatural: it belongs before the verb (I'm really going to quit). To say “seriously, this time” at the end of the sentence, you need for real.
As a question, For real? and Seriously? are almost the same, but for real is more informal: in a message to a colleague, Really? or Are you sure? is better. In texting, it's shortened to fr: That film was so good fr.
Your turn
Dad has promised to fix the roof three times, but this time he's doing it ___.
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for real — The end of the sentence needs the meaning “properly this time”, which is for real. Really doesn't go at the end like that; it would come before the verb: he's really doing it.
Write about a plan you've put off many times. Say what exactly you're going to do and when you'll start.
I've talked about learning to swim for years, but next Monday I'm signing up for lessons for real.
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