Especially

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "especially" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to emphasize something or to indicate that something is more important or more relevant than other things. Example sentence: I especially enjoyed the food at the restaurant last night.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These ambitions often generate friction with its neighbours, especially Tajikistan.

The Guardian

It's a serious hassle to shut down a bank account and transfer money to a new one, especially with direct deposit, automatic bill payments, and the like.

The Economist

With this in mind, is it time for the charity sector to reconsider how it approaches donors, especially those who might struggle to say no?

The Guardian

Youth unemployment rates in Europe are especially rising fast and are over 30% in Italy, Portugal and Spain – approximately double US rates.

The Guardian - Opinion

He ended the testimony saying the family, especially his father, had not been about the loan.

The Guardian

Yet, although even the IMF is crying out for the classic Keynesian boost to infrastructure spending, there is precious little sign of a favourable response from policymakers, especially in the beleaguered eurozone.

The Guardian

But current events will inevitably exacerbate the already established stereotype of the majority of young individuals as "thugs" and "gangsters", especially within the black community.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Fox's pledge to maintain Britain's ability to wage war unilaterally, cooperate with France while snubbing the EU's defence agency, cutting Whitehall staff and reforming wasteful procurement (again) does not sound like tough realism, especially when combined with Cameron's gimmicky "war cabinet" and national security adviser approach.

The Guardian - Opinion

Our referral rates are scrutinised at CCG levels to identify outliers, especially in overstretched hospital specialties.

The Guardian

"All of our young players in Germany, they don't even know what happened previously but in England, especially the newspapers, they remind us how well we did or how frightening we are or how we always win no matter what happens and that makes us even stronger.

The Guardian - Sport

Inside the country, Fidesz has favoured the middle class, and especially the upper middle class, thereby building a core clientele of politically active supporters – while slashing benefits for the neediest (about a third of Hungarians live in poverty – don't be fooled by the glittering, EU-funded projects in the centre of Budapest).

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "especially" to highlight a specific instance within a broader context, making it clear which element is of greater importance or relevance. This adds precision and emphasis to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "especially" with redundant qualifiers like "very" or "really". For example, instead of saying "especially very important", use "especially important" or "particularly important" for a more concise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "especially" functions to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, adding emphasis or specifying a particular instance. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and frequent. For example, 'I like fruits, especially apples.'

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "especially" is a versatile adverb used to emphasize specific elements within a larger context. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and its widespread use in diverse domains—from news and media to formal business and science—underscores its utility. When employing "especially", ensure it adds genuine emphasis without redundancy. Alternatives such as "particularly", "notably", and "in particular" can offer stylistic variation. Its frequent use in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist solidifies its place as a key word in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Particularly

Emphasizes a specific item or aspect within a larger group; very close in meaning.

Notably

Highlights something worthy of attention, slightly more formal than "especially".

In particular

Focuses attention on a specific item, offering a more formal tone.

Primarily

Indicates the main focus or most important aspect, shifting the emphasis slightly.

Specifically

Points out a precise item or detail, implying a greater level of exactness.

Significantly

Highlights the importance or impact of something, often used in more formal contexts.

Chiefly

Denotes the principal or most important element; more formal and less common.

Above all

Emphasizes the supreme importance of something over everything else.

Notably enough

Adds a tone of surprise, while pointing out importance.

To a greater extent

Indicates a higher degree of something, which is less direct than using "especially".

FAQs

How can I use "especially" in a sentence?

Use "especially" to emphasize a particular aspect or item within a larger group. For example, "I enjoy fruits, "especially apples"."

What's a good alternative to the word "especially"?

Alternatives to "especially" include "particularly", "notably", and "in particular", which can add variety to your writing.

Is there a difference between "especially" and "specially"?

"Especially" means 'particularly' or 'more than usual', while "specially" means 'for a specific purpose'. For example, a tool could be "specially designed" for a task, and you might "especially" appreciate its usefulness.

When should I use "especially" versus "specifically"?

"Especially" emphasizes importance or degree, whereas "specifically" indicates precision. Use "especially" to highlight something standing out, and "specifically" to point to exact details. For instance, "I like all kinds of music, "especially jazz"" versus "I need "specifically 3 apples" for this recipe."