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Joe's Cafe, 24/7 pit stop for ESL learners and teachers | September 2010
Egg's off, bacon's off, bread's off, tea's off. English is on though.

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.
Joe | Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 | Filed under Vocabulary

37 Responses to “Specially or especially?”

  1. Hong T Nhan, Vietnam says:
    13th September 2010 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:
    15th September 2010 at 10:23 am

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

  3. Le Phuc says:
    22nd September 2010 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:
    23rd September 2010 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:
    24th September 2010 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:
    25th September 2010 at 11:42 pm

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

  7. Miss.Sara says:
    3rd October 2010 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:
    5th October 2010 at 5:06 am

    Thanks a lot for helping us in English language !

  9. Niar says:
    5th October 2010 at 6:31 am

    Thanks alot Joe, now I can see them clearly.

  10. Aarti says:
    5th October 2010 at 4:57 pm

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

  11. Sangita says:
    6th October 2010 at 12:50 am

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

  12. Sarath says:
    6th October 2010 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:
    6th October 2010 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:
    7th October 2010 at 8:28 am

    It’s very interested.

  15. Ana Isabel says:
    8th October 2010 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:
    9th October 2010 at 6:38 am

    i don’t know these in the past.

  17. Mohamed Mohamed says:
    9th October 2010 at 11:26 am

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

  18. mat hi says:
    11th October 2010 at 4:05 am

    many thanks!i dont know it before

  19. small eyes says:
    11th October 2010 at 4:06 am

    thanks a lot

  20. jenny says:
    13th October 2010 at 7:35 am

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

  21. Fe says:
    17th October 2010 at 4:32 am

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

  22. liza says:
    19th October 2010 at 2:11 pm

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

  23. muhammad gumilang says:
    19th October 2010 at 2:46 pm

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

  24. Nazie says:
    26th October 2010 at 7:50 pm

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

  25. sama says:
    31st October 2010 at 5:28 pm

    I’m wonder

    I know that now for the first time

  26. ANU says:
    14th November 2010 at 12:02 pm

    so good

  27. nida says:
    20th November 2010 at 9:14 pm

    I was really confused about that lately.

    Thanks a lot!

  28. Mehmet says:
    24th November 2010 at 1:26 pm

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

  29. Kanika says:
    27th November 2010 at 4:34 am

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

  30. juneth says:
    3rd February 2011 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:
    16th April 2011 at 4:20 pm

    thank you JOE

  32. Akib says:
    10th May 2011 at 1:07 am

    Thanks.

  33. nikunj says:
    12th July 2011 at 1:12 pm

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

  34. Felix Forand says:
    16th November 2011 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:
    16th November 2011 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:
    27th January 2012 at 8:23 pm

    i m new student of english club and i realy like

  37. asmah says:
    22nd March 2012 at 10:12 am

    ok i got it the point after reading juneth sentence

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