Twitter
Email
RSSEspecially vs. Specially
One of our readers recently asked if we could explain the difference between especially and specially.
The words especial and special can be used almost interchangeably. They both mean something which was “out of the ordinary” or even “exceptional”. Merriam-Webster defines especial as meaning “being distinctive”:
as a: directed toward a particular individual, group, or end [especial greetings to his son] [especial care to speak clearly] b: of special note or importance : unusually great or significant [especial relevance] c: highly distinctive or personal : peculiar [especial dislike for music] d: close, intimate [especial crony] e: specific, particular [especial destination in mind]
The two words are synonyms, and often either is appropriate:
- My grandmother’s ninetieth birthday was an occasion of especial joy.
- My grandmother’s ninetieth birthday was an occasion of special joy.
Both of these are correct, however, especial implies that something less good exists, whereas something special doesn’t need to be compared against anything. Merrian-Webster explains the difference like this:
“special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own . especial may add implications of preeminence or preference [especial importance] .”
Note that special can be used as a noun, whereas especial cannot, in cases such as “It’s always worth checking the specials in the supermarket.”
Especially or specially?
When it comes to the adjectival forms, especially should always be used. It modifies a verb, adverb or adjective and means “particularly” or “exceptionally”:
- His train was running especially late that day.
- We were especially happy to see you.
- I put the cake especially high.
Specially is becoming more common but still tends to sound rather informal, even a little child-like (“I drew this picture specially for you!”) There is a lot of debate around whether “specially” is appropriate in some cases, but if you want to be sure, stick with “especially”.
Got Your Free eBook?
- Subscribe to Daily Writing Tips and you will be able to download our free ebook: Basic English Grammar.
- You will also get all our grammar, spelling, punctuation and writing tips.
- The download link will go along with the first email (you might need to wait up to 24 hours).
So – I could think of especial as .. extra-special? even-more-special?
Thanks!
I just say more specialer.
Seriously, thanks for the post, I was actually just wondering that the other day.
So what do I say??
“I specially want you for dinner.” OR “I especially want you for dinner.”
That’s funny, I just looked this up last week, as I found myself using ‘especially’ quite a lot lately. I read ‘especially’ is much more common so I you’re not sure I think that is what you should use. Right?
Sort of like Ricky Ricardo when he said, “Luuuuuuuuucy, you got some ’splaining to do!”
Vismay, in your sentence, “especially” is acting as an adjective to modify the verb want. See the last paragraph of my article above: I think you should use “especially” NOT “specially”, but the latter is becoming more common.
Best,
Ali
Ali, thanks a lot. So that means I can use specially if want to sound informal, right?? Or with a person whom I know really well??
Cheers,
Vismay
Hi Vismay,
Oops, sorry, only just saw your comment. Yes, it would be fine to use “specially” in an informal context. The rules of grammar are usually a bit more relaxed with friends!
i disagree, with the original poster as well as with the comments. For brevity’s sake, I’ll leave off all the “” marks.
Specially is used to mean in a special way or for a particular purpose. This is not somehow less formal. To say, for example, “I baked this cake specially for you” is to say that I used a special recipe… maybe you are allergic to eggs, so my special method of preparing this cake eliminated the eggs.
Especially is used to indicate preeminence or noteworthiness. This is not more formal. To say, for example, “I baked this cake especially for you” is to indicate that this cake is primarily for you (although I probably don’t mind if others try it), or that I was thinking of you specifically when I made it.
Another example:
SWAT forces are specially trained police officers. This usage of specially indicates that they have training for a particular purpose.
Police offers are highly trained, especially SWAT forces. This usage of especially indicates that SWAT forces are trained above and beyond the rest of the police officers.
In addition, adjectives modify nouns. These two, specially and especially, are adverbs.
The adjectives ’special’ and ‘especial’ are not interchangeable. The difference typically has to do with whether the specialness is intrinsic to the object or arises from the feelings of the subject. Take the following example:
• I have an especial interest in photography.
In this case, there is nothing intrinsically special about the interest in photography. Instead, the emphasis is on me, and my feeling that, of all my interests, photography is the most special. Compare that with the following:
• I have a special interest in photography: I like black and white photos of circus animals.
In this case, it is the interest itself that is specialized. There is not necessarily the implication that I am more interested in B&W circus animals than other subject matter, only that I consider that interest unique enough to be worth mentioning.
For the adverbial forms (specially and especially), ri, above, has some good examples. Again, especially implies that the intentions of the subject are special, and specially implies that the actions themselves were special.
• This cake is specially baked especially for you.
In this sentence, ’specially’ refers to the manner in which it was baked (i.e., a special technique), while ‘especially’ refers to the intentions of the baker.
thank you very much for this post! so helpful.
easy to read, easy to understand and i can continue on my writing.
*thumbs up*
Hey
This is a GREAT site. You have helped me solve the specially-especially puzzle so well! So clearly! Right down to the last detail that I needed!
Thank you!
GOD BLESS YOU!