Especially and specially both come from special, and their jobs differ. Especially means particularly or above all: "I love fruit, especially mangoes." Specially means for a special purpose: "This chair was specially designed for children."
The purpose test is short. If you can add "for this reason" or "for this use", the word is specially. If you can add "above all" or "more than others", the word is especially.
This page gives the two tests, eight examples and 15 questions. Every answer explains whether the sentence is about degree or purpose.
What each word means
especially
especially (adverb): particularly, above all, or to a great degree. "The weather was bad, especially in the north."
specially
specially (adverb): for a special purpose or in a special way. "specially made for children".
The rule
Especially picks one out
- It singles out one item from a group: "I like fruit, especially mangoes."
- It often follows a comma and adds a stronger example: "The traffic is bad, especially on Fridays."
- With not, it means not very: "I am not especially hungry."
- The adjective is special, and the adverb especially is the common word for degree.
Specially means for a purpose
- Specially describes something done for one particular reason or use: "a cake specially baked for her birthday".
- Common partners are made, designed, built, written, trained, chosen and arranged.
- It answers the question why: for that person, that job or that event.
- In American English, especially is more common even in some purpose sentences, but the clear purpose pattern above is standard everywhere.
The purpose test
- Replace the word with above all. If the sentence still works, use especially.
- Replace the word with for this purpose. If that works, use specially.
- Look at the next verb. Made, designed and trained usually take specially.
- Look at the rest of the sentence. A comparison or a highlighted example takes especially.
Traps and variants
- Especial exists as an adjective but is rare and formal. Use special in normal writing.
- Not especially means not very, and not specially means not for a special purpose. The difference is real.
- In the sentence "he came home specially to see us", the visit had a purpose, so specially is correct.
- In the sentence "he was especially kind today", the kindness was stronger than usual, so especially is correct.
How to remember
The trick: Especially means above all; specially means for a special purpose. If you can say for this use, choose specially.
Examples
- I love fruit, especially mangoes.Mangoes are singled out from all fruit, so especially is correct.
- The traffic was bad, especially on Fridays.Friday is the strongest example of the problem.
- This chair was specially designed for children.The design has one purpose, so specially is correct.
- She baked a cake specially for his birthday.The cake was made for one event.
- The exam was hard, especially the last question.The last question is singled out as the hardest part.
- The software was specially written for the hospital.The software has one purpose, so specially fits.
- I am not especially hungry right now.Not especially means not very.
- He came home specially to see his mother.The visit had a special purpose.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: I love fruit, specially mangoes. Right: I love fruit, especially mangoes.
- The sentence singles out mangoes above the other fruit, so especially is correct.
- Wrong: This tool was especially made for the job. Right: This tool was specially made for the job.
- The tool exists for one purpose, so specially is the right word.
- Wrong: The park is beautiful, specially in autumn. Right: The park is beautiful, especially in autumn.
- Autumn is picked out as the best time, so especially is correct.
- Wrong: The dress was especially made for the wedding. Right: The dress was specially made for the wedding.
- The dress was made for one event, so specially fits.
- Wrong: I do not like rain, specially in the city. Right: I do not like rain, especially in the city.
- The city is the strongest example, so especially is needed.
Practice drill
Answer all 15 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
I love vegetables, ___ carrots.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. especially Carrots are singled out above the other vegetables, so especially is correct.
This chair was ___ designed for children.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. specially The chair has one purpose, so the purpose word specially fits.
The traffic is bad, ___ on Fridays.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. especially Friday is the strongest example, so especially is correct.
She baked a cake ___ for his birthday.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. specially The cake was made for one event, so specially is the right word.
The exam was hard, ___ the last question.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. especially The last question is picked out as the hardest part, so especially is correct.
The software was ___ written for the hospital.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. specially The software exists for one purpose, so specially fits.
I am not ___ hungry right now.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. especially Not especially means not very, so the degree word is correct.
He came home ___ to see his mother.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. specially The visit had a special purpose, so specially is correct.
The park is beautiful, ___ in autumn.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. especially Autumn is singled out as the best time, so especially is correct.
The dress was ___ made for the wedding.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. specially The dress was made for one event, so specially fits.
I like sports, ___ tennis.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. especially Tennis is singled out above the other sports, so especially is correct.
They were ___ trained for this job.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. specially The training had one purpose, so specially is correct.
It was cold, ___ in the morning.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. especially The morning is the strongest example of the cold, so especially is correct.
The gift was ___ chosen for you.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. specially The gift was chosen for one person, so specially fits.
She was ___ pleased with the result.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. especially The pleasure was stronger than usual, so especially is correct.
Questions learners ask
Is specially slang?
No. Specially is standard British English for a special purpose: "specially trained staff". It is less common than especially, so learners meet it less often, but it appears in professional writing and advertising.
Can especially mean very?
It can, mostly in the negative: "not especially tired" means not very tired. In positive sentences, particularly or above all is the safer meaning: "especially good" means better than the rest.
When should I use special?
Use special as the adjective before a noun: a special day, a special seat. Use especially or specially as the adverb. Especial exists but is rare and formal, so special is the everyday choice.
More confusing words
Rise vs raise
Rise means to go up by itself, with no object. Raise means to move something up or increase it, so it always needs an object.
Lie vs lay
You lie down, but you lay something down. Lie has no object, lay needs one, and the past of lie is lay, which is the root of the confusion.
Practice vs practise
In British English, practice with a c is the noun and practise with an s is the verb. American English uses practice for both.
Browse all the confusing word pairs or take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.