Originally Posted by Rusty (Post 13927)

The word especially, always used as an adverb, means:
to an unusual or exceptional degree (This building is especially large.)
to single out one among a range (They were all winners, especially Joe.)
chiefly (There are many great violinists, especially men.)
for a specific or particular purpose (This brush, especially designed for removing pet hair, makes a great gift.)

The adverb specially means:
for a special or particular purpose, person, or occasion
(The program was specially for children.)
(This brush, specially designed to remove pet hair better than any other pet hair remover, makes an exceptional gift.)
(The especially tall building had specially designed turbolifts to carry passengers to the higher floors more quickly.)

As you can see, the last definition of especially and the only definition of specially are quite similar. This is probably why there is a great deal of confusion between the words. As Poli pointed out, however, there are certainly times when they can't (properly) be switched. It's improper to say, "The building was specially tall," for example.

Originally Posted by poli (Post 13921)

Auxiliary adverb is better (an adverb to embellish another adverb like muy) may be a better term.

Think of especially as something similar to very. The word specially does not correspond to very--especially does.

Originally Posted by poli (Post 13905)

Originally Posted by Rusty (Post 13927)

for a specific or particular purpose (This brush, especially designed for removing pet hair, makes a great gift.)

The adverb specially means:
for a special or particular purpose, person, or occasion

Originally Posted by Alfonso (Post 13955)

So, the question is how to distinguish when to use especially or specially when it means for a special or particular purpose, person or occasion, as it's partially the same as for a specific or particular purpose.

My conclusion is that when it means specifically you can use both.

And what about the adjectives? I guess special and especial work the same as their related adverbs. Am I right?

Originally Posted by Alfonso (Post 13951)

The conclusion I get is that especially doesn't mean very.

And I don't think auxiliary adverb is a proper term for especially, since in the examples you gave once works modifying another adverb (2. especially well), and once works modifying a verb (4. made especially). The conclusion is that it works both, as much linked to an adverb as linked to a verb, as any other adverb.

Anyway, I had never heard before of the term auxiliary adverb, and Google only gives 84 entries for it, not all of them related to this subject.

Are you a grammar-fiction writer, Poli? It's OK if you invent words... But, inventing grammar concepts should take you a little longer. ;)

Originally Posted by poli (Post 13958)

This may be an invented concept all language is invented. I did not acuñar this concept, but thanks for the compliment.

When especially describes the adverb it is auxiliary much the way very (muy) is. If another word for auxiliary suits you, find it and use it. The word specially doesn't fulfill that function as well. Auxiliary means help it helps discribe the main adverb or adjective.
(He is especially tall. He works especially well.) In this function the
word especially (like very) doesn't stand on its own. It supports a principal adverb or adjective and is therefore auxiliary..
I will repeat especially should be used when it is followed by a prepositional phrase.
Feel free to google yourself silly and find 84 entries or 184 entries or 184,000 entries. It doesn't matter. What I've written makes perfect sense. <snip> :)

Originally Posted by poli (Post 13958)

This may be an invented concept all language is invented. I did not acuñar this concept, but thanks for the compliment.

When especially describes the adverb it is auxiliary much the way very (muy) is. If another word for auxiliary suits you, find it and use it. The word specially doesn't fulfill that function as well. Auxiliary means help it helps discribe the main adverb or adjective.
(He is especially tall. He works especially well.) In this function the
word especially (like very) doesn't stand on its own. It supports a principal adverb or adjective and is therefore auxiliary..
I will repeat especially should be used when it is followed by a prepositional phrase.
Feel free to google yourself silly and find 84 entries or 184 entries or 184,000 entries. It doesn't matter. What I've written makes perfect sense. <snip> :)

Originally Posted by Tomisimo (Post 13965)

Auxilliary adverbs don't exist as a existing, defined, agreed-upon grammatical category, but on the other hand, what poli means is understandable- he's describing how one adverb is used to modify another adverb and thus auxilliary adverb as a description and not a canonical grammatical category makes perfect sense.