Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to emphasize that you are referring to something real or genuine.
The segments are filmed using either local actors or the ~ people involved...
Officials admit the ~ number of AIDS victims is much higher than statistics reflect.
= real
ADJ: ADJ n emphasis
2.
You use ~ to contrast the important aspect of something with a less important aspect.
She had compiled pages of notes, but she had not yet gotten down to doing the ~ writing...
in ~ fact: see fact
ADJ: ADJ n emphasis