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specially or especially?

Many people wonder if there is a difference between the adverbs “specially” and “especially”. Even native speakers aren’t always sure how to use them. In some cases they can actually mean the same thing, especially in informal speech. However, for the sake of simplicity, here are the basic differences between the two words.

specially: for a particular purpose:

  • I made this cake specially for Mary.

especially:

1. particularly, above all:

  • I hate my teachers, especially Mr Cain.

2. very:

  • That was an especially good meal.
Josef | 2010/09/07 | Filed under Vocabulary
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38 Responses to “specially or especially?”

  1. Hong T Nhan, Vietnam says:
    2010-09-13 at 1:50 am

    it’s cool, Joe! I have used these words right a lot so far. However not until now have I had a clear idea about them.

  2. monika says:
    2010-09-15 at 10:23 am

    Thank you for making it clear to me.
    Nice job!

  3. Le Phuc says:
    2010-09-22 at 8:06 am

    They sound like they have the same meaning (for example when we translate into our Vietnamese language, both have the same meaning words), but we can image them in each case when we talk about it, so we’ll won’t get mistake.

  4. HELMI says:
    2010-09-23 at 9:29 am

    thx Joe,

    i understand it more clearly now.

    i’m a new comer and learner of english.

    i’m from Indonesia.

  5. tuan nguyen says:
    2010-09-24 at 3:21 pm

    thank you. it is useful for me. i often use them in confusing.but now when i read yours , i am sure i can not use wrongly . many thanks.

  6. chau175 says:
    2010-09-25 at 11:42 pm

    Thank you very much..!It is useful for me.

  7. Miss.Sara says:
    2010-10-03 at 10:24 pm

    It’s a simple difference and great advantage.
    I am appreciating your evort to make English more clearly and easily for all.
    Many thanks Sir.

  8. sandeep says:
    2010-10-05 at 5:06 am

    Thanks a lot for helping us in English language !

  9. Niar says:
    2010-10-05 at 6:31 am

    Thanks alot Joe, now I can see them clearly.

  10. Aarti says:
    2010-10-05 at 4:57 pm

    Thanks a ton for clearing the doubt. it is much clearer now.

  11. Sangita says:
    2010-10-06 at 12:50 am

    The differences between these words are very clear. Thank you very much !!!

  12. Sarath says:
    2010-10-06 at 6:58 am

    Tose who use English as secondory laungage may always need a gudence to get the correct understanding in many cases like this.
    Thanks you Sir.

  13. phoebe says:
    2010-10-06 at 9:57 pm

    i have been using these words a lot without focusing of the meaning. and now, it’s been clearer to me.

  14. Shalva says:
    2010-10-07 at 8:28 am

    It’s very interested.

  15. Ana Isabel says:
    2010-10-08 at 2:42 am

    Dear Mr Joe
    I always had a confusion when I wanted to use “specially” or “especially” and had to use the dictionary and try to adapt this word, but now I’m sure when use each one of them.

    All your notes are very important and practical.

    Thanks a lot for your help. I have learnt so much

    Sincerily
    Ana Isabel

  16. Ahmed says:
    2010-10-09 at 6:38 am

    i don’t know these in the past.

  17. Mohamed Mohamed says:
    2010-10-09 at 11:26 am

    What a useful note! Idon’t know how to thank you about your efforts.

  18. mat hi says:
    2010-10-11 at 4:05 am

    many thanks!i dont know it before

  19. small eyes says:
    2010-10-11 at 4:06 am

    thanks a lot

  20. jenny says:
    2010-10-13 at 7:35 am

    Thanks., Now i know how to use those words. i thought its the same hehe =)

  21. Fe says:
    2010-10-17 at 4:32 am

    Thanks. Now, I am sure where and how to use appropriately the two English words.

  22. liza says:
    2010-10-19 at 2:11 pm

    thanks a lot… I thought there is no difference in using those words.

  23. muhammad gumilang says:
    2010-10-19 at 2:46 pm

    thank a lot, but i want more sample tobe more clearly.

  24. Nazie says:
    2010-10-26 at 7:50 pm

    I got impressed,I’d never paid attention to this point.
    so useful thanks

  25. sama says:
    2010-10-31 at 5:28 pm

    I’m wonder

    I know that now for the first time

  26. ANU says:
    2010-11-14 at 12:02 pm

    so good

  27. nida says:
    2010-11-20 at 9:14 pm

    I was really confused about that lately.

    Thanks a lot!

  28. Mehmet says:
    2010-11-24 at 1:26 pm

    Yesterday I made a special my mom.
    Especially I hate this girl cause always makes me sick.

  29. Kanika says:
    2010-11-27 at 4:34 am

    Nice explanation.. Thanks for making this concept clear !!

  30. juneth says:
    2011-02-03 at 3:55 pm

    great! this morning i washed myself really clean, especially my hair. i washed my hair specially for the party.
    thank you, thank you!

  31. batyy says:
    2011-04-16 at 4:20 pm

    thank you JOE

  32. Akib says:
    2011-05-10 at 1:07 am

    Thanks.

  33. nikunj says:
    2011-07-12 at 1:12 pm

    Thank you very much. I never gave attantion on this differance before. .

  34. Felix Forand says:
    2011-11-16 at 7:51 pm

    Thank you very much.
    It was a very helpful grammar tip.
    I did not pay attention to it before, but now I will.

  35. Felix Forand says:
    2011-11-16 at 7:52 pm

    Your explanations were also very clear.
    I’m an ESL teacher, and I will use them to teach it to my students.

  36. khalid says:
    2012-01-27 at 8:23 pm

    i m new student of english club and i realy like

  37. asmah says:
    2012-03-22 at 10:12 am

    ok i got it the point after reading juneth sentence

  38. banga says:
    2015-08-20 at 6:55 pm

    thank you for that detail,it will be usefull for me

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