specifically speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

"specifically speaking" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to introduce a more focused statement or opinion about something. For example, "Specifically speaking, I think the new policy will have a positive effect on the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

The morphological features were also related to the chromosomal aberrations; more specifically speaking, the presence of trisomy 18 was associated with a specific morphology.

BMC Cancer

John Cannon, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said he could not recall specifically speaking with Delio.

MIT Technology Review

Specifically speaking, they can generate good results on training data but normally do not produce an optimal model when applied to unseen data in real world applications.

Journal of Systems and Software

Specifically, speaking up with promotive voice (providing ideas for improving the group) was significantly related to gaining status among one's peers and emerging as a leader.

Harvard Business Review

Romney's current position on immigration is far more hardline, opposing driver's licences and resident college tuition rates for illegal immigrants, and specifically speaking against chain migration policies that would allow a family to immigrate when one member is a citizen.

The Guardian - Opinion

Jackson Lee would not say with whom she's specifically speaking about the relief bill but mentioned calls from "across the country" from members of both parties, including House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis)., who promised Congress would act quickly.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

What makes the Toast different from other sites and how does it specifically speak to women?

The Guardian - Books

The article specifically speaks out on the effects that female incarceration has on the children of those imprisoned.

Princeton University

Mr. Carson responded that the Constitution "doesn't address that particular situation". The Constitution does not specifically speak to what Mr. Obama should do at this moment.

The New York Times

I thought, why don't we commission, or pull from the portfolio of Materialise, works that specifically speak to certain locations and objects.

The New York Times

Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said he would criticize anyone who would say something disparaging of other people, but he declined to specifically speak to Trump's comments.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "specifically speaking", ensure that the subsequent statement is indeed more specific and provides additional clarity. Avoid using it as a mere transition without adding substantial detail.

Common error

Avoid using "specifically speaking" when a simpler transition or no transition at all would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound verbose and less direct. For example, instead of "The results were positive, specifically speaking, they exceeded expectations", try "The results were positive; they exceeded expectations."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "specifically speaking" is to act as an adverbial phrase, modifying the subsequent clause by providing a more detailed or precise perspective. Ludwig AI confirms its role in introducing focused statements.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "specifically speaking" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to introduce a more detailed or focused explanation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is effective for clarifying a previous statement and directing attention to particular aspects. While it is generally suitable for neutral to formal contexts like science, news, and business, be mindful of potential redundancy in informal settings. Alternatives such as "more precisely", "in detail", and "in particular" can offer more concise options depending on your intended emphasis. It's also good practice to ensure that you're adding specific information and not just using it as a filler phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more precisely

Focuses on accuracy and exactness rather than initiating a clarification.

to be exact

Highlights numerical or factual precision.

in detail

Emphasizes thoroughness of explanation.

in particular

Singles out a specific aspect from a broader topic.

to put it another way

Offers a rephrased explanation, typically for simplification.

namely

Introduces a list or specification of items.

in other words

Provides an alternative phrasing for better understanding.

for instance

Introduces an example to illustrate a point.

as an example

Presents a concrete case to clarify a general statement.

more explicitly

Indicates a clearer, less ambiguous restatement.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "specifically speaking" in a sentence?

Use "specifically speaking" to introduce a detailed or focused explanation of something you've already mentioned. For example, "The project aims to improve efficiency; specifically speaking, it seeks to reduce energy consumption."

What are some alternatives to "specifically speaking"?

You can use alternatives like "more precisely", "in detail", or "in particular", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "specifically speaking" after a general statement?

While not always redundant, ensure that the phrase introduces a genuinely more specific or detailed point. If the subsequent information is already implied, the phrase may be unnecessary.

What's the difference between "specifically speaking" and "generally speaking"?

"Specifically speaking" narrows the focus to a particular detail, while "generally speaking" /s/generally+speaking broadens the scope to consider the overall trend or pattern. They serve opposite purposes in clarifying information.