and specifically who

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "and specifically who" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to clarify or specify the identity of a person or group being referred to in a discussion. Example: "We need to identify the key stakeholders in this project, and specifically who will be responsible for each task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

With January's haute couture season approaching, all eyes in Paris remain fixed on Christian Dior and, specifically, who will replace John Galliano at the grand French fashion house.

Independent

Although I would never tell anyone that they need to see a film, especially one that does contain so much violence -- sexual and otherwise -- I would encourage women who loved the books (and specifically who Salander is within them), to give Fincher's version a chance.

Huffington Post

No less important than the origin of the data, is who can have access to it, and specifically who can use it and alter it.

Briefings in Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The tapes, recorded in hotel rooms in Portland and in cars with two undercover agents, are the heart of a case that both the prosecution and the defense say hinges on perception and belief — specifically who Mr. Mohamud really was, or was not, at the time of the would-be attack and in the months leading up to it.

The New York Times

Three people who know Ms. Roberts said they could not point to any one thing that I.C.M., and Mr. Berg specifically, who is generally regarded as more aloof than his C.A.A. counterparts, had done wrong.

The New York Times

An essential component of appropriate disaster response is the ability for the healthcare worker to recognize a critical event and know what to do – specifically who should be notified and how a disaster plan is activated.

BMC Medical Education

Only two RCT abstracts reported details of trial registration, no abstracts reported the method of allocation concealment and only one mentioned specifically who was blinded.

Plosone

The judge, Jed Rakoff, ruled that the settlement was inadequate and left many questions unanswered, specifically who was making the decisions at Bank of America regarding what to disclose and what not do disclose.

Forbes

Specifically, who are they serving?

The Guardian

Specifically, who teaches Ortiz how to swing the bat?

The New Yorker

It's a show about photography, and specifically about who has produced it and why.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "and specifically who" to introduce a clarification or a more precise identification of a person or group mentioned earlier in the sentence. This helps avoid ambiguity and provides a sharper focus.

Common error

Be careful not to use "and specifically who" when the context already makes it clear whom you are referring to. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "and specifically who" functions as a conjunctive phrase that introduces a clarification or specification about a person or group previously mentioned. It serves to narrow down or provide more precise information.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "and specifically who" serves to provide clarification and precision, acting as a conjunctive phrase to specify a person or group. While grammatically correct and featured in diverse sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, according to Ludwig it appears to be more common in news and media and scientific contexts. To enhance writing, use it when you want to provide a direct and clear specification. Ensure the context needs clarification to prevent redundancy. Consider alternatives like "and in particular who" or "and especially who" for varied emphasis. Ludwig confirms the validity and applicability of this phrase in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

and in particular who

Replaces "specifically" with "in particular", emphasizing a distinct focus.

and especially who

Substitutes "specifically" with "especially", highlighting a notable instance.

and namely who

Replaces "specifically" with "namely", introducing a person or group by name.

and precisely who

Substitutes "specifically" with "precisely", stressing exactness.

and particularly who

Replaces "specifically" with "particularly", emphasizing a certain person or group.

and more exactly who

Replaces "specifically" with "more exactly", aiming for greater accuracy.

and to be specific, who

Adds "to be specific" for clearer emphasis.

and just who in particular

Adds the word "just" to add emphasis and "in particular" to reinforce the focus

and that is, who

Uses "that is" to introduce a clarification of the person or group.

and by name, who

Emphasizes identifying the person or group by their name.

FAQs

How can I use "and specifically who" in a sentence?

Use "and specifically who" to clarify which person or group you are referring to, adding precision to your statement. For example, "We need to interview the team leaders, "and specifically who" has experience with this project".

What phrases are similar to "and specifically who"?

Alternatives include "and in particular who", "and especially who", or "and namely who". These phrases can be used to specify or emphasize a particular person or group.

Is it grammatically correct to use "and specifically who"?

Yes, "and specifically who" is grammatically correct when used to introduce a clarification about a person or group. However, ensure the context requires further specification to avoid redundancy.

When should I use "and specifically who" instead of other similar phrases?

Use "and specifically who" when you want to provide a direct and clear specification of a person or group. If you want to emphasize a particular individual, consider using "and especially who" instead.