What is the difference between "especially" and "specially"?

What is the difference between "especially" and "specially"?

by Mahmoud eg
(Egypt)

Dear Ola,

What is the difference between these two words:

especially & specially (without the "e")?

Thank you

Comments for What is the difference between "especially" and "specially"?

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 04, 2011
Thanks
by: Anonymous

Thanks Ma'am. Great.

Aug 07, 2011
Thanks
by: Sabah

Thank you Mrs. Ola for your reply.

Apr 02, 2011
Thank you
by: Mahmoud eg

Thank you very much madam Ola.

Mar 31, 2011
Answer
by: Ola Zur

Hi,

Basically, "specially" means "for a special purpose".

Examples:
"This suit was made specially for me."
"The candles were bought specially for the party."
"The house was specially built to resist fire."

"Especially" means "more than usual or more than others."

Examples:
"The car was not especially expensive."
"I like fruit, especially apples."
"This is a small house to live in, especially if you have children."

However, nowadays these two words are often used the same way.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Questions and Answers about English.