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Unit 1: English In A Minute
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Session 25

Welcome to English In A Minute. Give us a minute and we'll give you a hot tip about English. Grammar, vocabulary... there's so much to learn! And all taught by your favourite BBC Learning English staff!

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Especially vs specially

Do you have a minute to spare to learn some English? Tom teaches you the difference between especially and specially! Give us 60 seconds and we'll give you the English!

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Tom
Hi everybody! I’m Tom from BBC Learning English. People often confuse the words specially and especially. Today, I'm going to tell you the difference.

Both of these words are adverbs.

Especially means 'in particular' or 'most of all'. For example: I like food, but I especially like sandwiches. This means that I particularly like sandwiches. They're my favourite kind of food.

Specially, however, has a different meaning. Specially means 'for a particular purpose' or 'in a particular way'. So: This sandwich was specially made. Dan made a special sandwich just for me.

Thank you, Dan!

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Especially vs  specially

Both especially and specially are adverbs. 

Especially
Especially means 'in particular' or 'most of all'.

  • I like food, but I especially like sandwiches.
  • He's often a little late, but he was especially late today.
  • She looked especially beautiful that night.

Specially
Specially means 'for a particular purpose' or 'in a particular way'.

  • This sandwich was specially made.
  • They had a chair specially designed for her size.
  • The animals are specially trained to locate the mushrooms.

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