Especially and specially

[ElDanés]

Normally one says that if you don't know which one to use, use especially. It's more common than the other, so the chances that it will fit is bigger. Note that this is not a rule, but just a little help.

[poli]

Escrito originalmente por Rusty

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.

Thanks Rusty for being thorough and correcting me. It's an adverb not an adjective. An example of how especially is used as an auxiliary adverb (like the word very) , and specially is not is Rusty's final sentece in the above quote. It's best to used especially if the sentence is followed by a prepostitional phrase. (the suit made especially for you)

[Alfonso]

Escrito originalmente por poli

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.

Escrito originalmente por poli

1. She treats her friends specially.
2. She treats her friends especially well....... It can be very.
3. The meal was made specially
4. The meal was made especially for you..... It cannot be very.

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.

<snip>

[Alfonso]

Escrito originalmente por Rusty

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

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?

[Rusty]

Escrito originalmente por Alfonso

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?

I admit that it's hard to distinguish the two adverbs when they mean for a special or particular purpose and for a specific or particular purpose. Here I almost always choose especially.

As far as the adjective forms, the former is used almost exclusively in American English. I've never heard anyone say especial.

[poli]

Escrito originalmente por Alfonso

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.

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>

[Alfonso]

Escrito originalmente por poli

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>

Muchas gracias por tu explicación. Está todo realmente claro. Gracias de nuevo.

[Tomisimo]

I think Poli's and Rusty's explanations clear this up pretty well, especially post #10

[Tomisimo]

Escrito originalmente por poli

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>

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.

[poli]

Escrito originalmente por Tomisimo

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.

Apparently the term auxiliary adverb confused some so I did some research to find out the technical word for the unique function which the word especially and the word very (when used as a adverb) serve.
The term is particularizer adverb http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/glossary/p.htm.
These adverbs function differently from other types of adverbs, and need to be categorized separately. Although they are auxiliary by function, particularizer is the canonical word -- a word I've never seen before.