especially

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "especially" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word "especially" to identify something or someone as distinguished from the rest of a group. Example sentence: I especially enjoy spending time with my family.

✓ 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

Make sure that the element you're highlighting with "especially" truly warrants the emphasis. Overuse can dilute its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "especially" when simply adding extra information that isn't particularly important or noteworthy. Ensure it truly highlights something significant.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "especially" functions as an emphasizer, singling out specific elements from a broader group. Ludwig AI indicates its frequent and correct usage in highlighting noteworthy aspects. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to add specific focus.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

6%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "especially" is a versatile tool for emphasizing particular elements within a broader context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and commonly used across a spectrum of writing styles. Its primary function is to draw attention to details that are more noteworthy or significant than others. While its usage is frequent across diverse sources, it is most commonly found in news and media. Using "especially" correctly and strategically can significantly enhance the clarity and impact of your writing. Remember to avoid redundancy, and always ensure the emphasized element genuinely warrants special attention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly

This word offers direct synonymy with "especially", indicating a specific focus on one item or aspect.

in particular

This highlights a specific detail or example within a broader context.

notably

This emphasizes the noteworthiness of something, similar to highlighting it with "especially".

specifically

Pinpoints a precise detail, similar to drawing focus with "especially".

primarily

This shifts the focus to the main or most important element.

chiefly

Highlights the primary reason or cause, akin to focusing with "especially".

mainly

Indicates what is of greatest concern or importance.

above all

Suggests something is more important than everything else.

most of all

Emphasizes a preference or importance above all other options.

in a special way

Indicates a unique or distinct manner, similar to what is implied with "especially".

FAQs

How do I use "especially" in a sentence?

Use "especially" to single out a particular item or aspect for emphasis. For example, "I enjoy all kinds of fruit, "especially mangoes"."

What can I say instead of "especially"?

You can use alternatives like "particularly", "notably", or "in particular" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "especially" and "very" together?

While not strictly grammatically incorrect, using "especially very" can be redundant. Consider using one or the other, or rephrasing for clarity. For example, instead of "especially very important", try "particularly important" or "of utmost importance".

What's the difference between "especially" and "specially"?

"Especially" means 'particularly' or 'more than others', while "specially" means 'for a specific purpose'. For example, "I like all fruits, "especially apples"" versus "This tool was "specially designed" for this task".