Revised as of
10 Sept 2022
Broadly, the words in this word confusion, both especially vs specially, mean particularly.
That said, there is a small difference in that especially is more formal and conveys a sense of something exceptional, that there is something out there that is of lesser quality.
Dictionary.com had a useful article, stating that especially “can also mean above all, something more when compared to other things, or one option stands out above the others. So it was clear the boys were talented singers, especially the youngest. Or, although she loved all animals, she was especially passionate about tigers.
They also had a good tip: “if you can swap in exceptionally in the place of especially and it makes sense, then especially is generally the right choice. For example, she excelled in all subjects at school but was exceptionally good at science.
Specially is informal and refers to something or someone with a distinct purpose or that stands apart, without implying that anything or anyone else is lesser.
Dictionary.com also notes that specifically is another definition for specially. For example, he brought Spanish red wine over to his friend’s house specially because he knows it’s his favorite. Or he got his hair cut specially for the family photos this afternoon. Or, she made sure to go to bed early specially for the big day ahead.
Another Dictionary.com tip was to substitute specifically, then specially would be correct. For example, he went to the grocery store specifically for milk and left without it.
Now to ease up on it, especially is the more common usage, so if you can’t decide, lean toward especially.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Especially | Specially |
|---|---|
Because She Looks Especially Cute Today by Michelle Oshen is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Flickr. — Sure, she’s a cutie every day, but today she is especially cute. |
Contraption Designed to Carry Sea Turtle Eggs by Jennifer Strickland, USFWS, is under the CC0 license, via Pixnio. — These conjoined boxes were specially designed for the task. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Adverb | Adverb |
Used to single out one person, thing, or situation over all others
Particularly
Better
|
For a special purpose
|
| Examples: | |
| He despised them all, especially Sylvester.
It was a new song, written especially for Jonathan. Her dress, made especially for the ball, caught at her legs as she ran, slowing her down. When we walked into the room, he announced that he was going to sing a song especially for Micky and me. He didn’t especially like dancing. Sleep is especially important for growing children. |
They have been fabricated specially for this boat.
It had to have been a specially commissioned report. You can buy hair products specially formulated to remove some chlorine buildup and restore body. The entire area, including the steam room and shower room, is tiled in a specially commissioned mosaic. A specially commissioned work of art was given to the winning sponsor. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: especial | Adjective: special Noun: special Plural for the noun: specials |
| History of the Word: | |
| Late Middle English, via the Old French from the the Middle French, which is from the Latin speciālis meaning special and pertaining to a particular kind + -ly. | 1175–1225 Middle English, as an adjective from the Latin speciālis of a given species, equivalent to speci(ēs) species + -ālis (-al) + -ly. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Especially versus Specially
Apple Dictionary.com
“‘Especially’ vs. ‘Specially’.” Dictionary.com. 12 May 2020. Web. 10 Sept 2022. <https://www.dictionary.com/e/especially-vs-specially/>.
“especially/specially.” Vocabulary.com. n.d. Web. 11 Dec 2019. <https://www.vocabulary.com/articles/chooseyourwords/especially-specially/>.
Lexico.com: especially, specially
Pinterest Photo Credits:
A Stile Designed For People with Especially Long Legs by Eric Jones, is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons and courtesy of Geograph.org.uk.
