especially vs. specially?

[Hei]

Are they mean the same thing?
According to Webster, they seems like the same to me.
Thanks in advance.

[shailendra.sharma]

Both especially and specially are adjectives used in almost similar situations; but they have some distinction --

1) Especially is used to denote the importance of something; while specially is used to denote the uniqueness of something

2) Especially is sometimes used in not so good things; while specially is used in good things, like festivities / celebrations etc. Few examples --

-- This market is especially tough on retirees.

-- Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, was Squiggly's weakness.

-- Aardvark delivered the specially minted commemorative coins.

The cake had been specially prepared for the occasion.

[jnelson0612]

Both especially and specially are adjectives used in almost similar situations; but they have some distinction --

1) Especially is used to denote the importance of something; while specially is used to denote the uniqueness of something

2) Especially is sometimes used in not so good things; while specially is used in good things, like festivities / celebrations etc. Few examples --

-- This market is especially tough on retirees.

-- Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, was Squiggly's weakness.

-- Aardvark delivered the specially minted commemorative coins.

The cake had been specially prepared for the occasion.

Shailendra, thank you!

I agree with Stacey; I've taught the GMAT for eleven years and have never seen "specially" in Sentence Correction.

[prashantarora610]

Hi,

In GMAT Prep test, I came across a question that tested especially and specially. Below is the question:

Sulfur dioxide, a major contributor to acid rain, is an especially serious pollutant because it diminishes the respiratory system's ability to deal with all other pollutants.

a. an especially serious pollutant because it diminishes the respiratory system's ability to deal

b. an especially serious pollutant because of diminishing the respiratory system's capability of dealing

c. an especially serious pollutant because it diminishes the capability of respiratory system in dealing

d. a specially serious pollutant because it diminishes the capability of the respiratory system to deal

e. a specially serious pollutant because of diminishing the respiratory system's ability to deal

I was confused between options (a) and (d). Correct option is (a). Please provide explanation.

[shankhamala28]

First of all, let me tell you the difference between "especially" and "specially". I think I got a grasp of it from one of Ron's sessions.

"especially" can be used when you are referring to something that has a greater extent (of greater priority, importance, weightage) than others.

Eg: This chemical is especially dangerous for our body because it can methylate molecules in our body.

"specially" can be used when you are referring to something has been done in a special way

Eg: The food had to be specially prepared for the guests having unusual allergies.

Option A is correct because the sentence means that Sulphur Dioxide is more responsible (contributor) for acid rain as compared to other chemicals.
Now when is especially used? Especially is used to say that something is of more importance or contributes more than other things.
Bingo!! This is what the sentence is saying.... Sulphur Dioxide is the major contributor. There are many other contributors as well... but Sulphur Dioxide contributes the most.

Choice D is saying that Sulphur Dioxide has contributed in a special way to acid rain. It makes no sense. Therefore, specially doesn't work at all here.

Hope this answers your question.

[RonPurewal]

^^^ that.
what (s)he said.

[samichange]

Hi,

In GMAT Prep test, I came across a question that tested especially and specially. Below is the question:

Sulfur dioxide, a major contributor to acid rain, is an especially serious pollutant because it diminishes the respiratory system's ability to deal with all other pollutants.

a. an especially serious pollutant because it diminishes the respiratory system's ability to deal

b. an especially serious pollutant because of diminishing the respiratory system's capability of dealing

c. an especially serious pollutant because it diminishes the capability of respiratory system in dealing

d. a specially serious pollutant because it diminishes the capability of the respiratory system to deal

e. a specially serious pollutant because of diminishing the respiratory system's ability to deal

I was confused between options (a) and (d). Correct option is (a). Please provide explanation.

SO2 is especially a dangerous gas
SO2 is specially made in industrial labs.

[RonPurewal]

Samichange, do you have a question? If so, I can't tell what it is; please clarify.

SO2 is especially a dangerous gas

This sentence is formulated incorrectly. "Especially" should immediately precede "dangerous": an especially dangerous gas.

[evelynho]

Hi Ron,

Besides "especially" and "specially" distinctions, would you please also help to clarify the other difference between A and D - "the respiratory system's ability" V.S. "the capability of the respiratory system". That would be another workable way to work out the correct answer.

Thank you in advance.

[RonPurewal]

in practice, those two words are pretty close in meaning, so, the distinction is almost certainly just there to distract you from other things.

__

a very careful writer would use "ability" for what some person/thing can currently do (or could do at the time referenced in the writing), but would use "capability" for that person's/thing's maximum potential.

so, if a good writer says that something is beyond someone's abilities, it MIGHT still be possible for the person to learn to do that thing, or train to the point of being able to do it.
on the other hand, if a good writer says that something is beyond someone's capabilities, then the implication is that the person basically can't ever achieve that thing.

will you ever be TESTED on a difference like this? nope.

[evelynho]

in practice, those two words are pretty close in meaning, so, the distinction is almost certainly just there to distract you from other things.

__

a very careful writer would use "ability" for what some person/thing can currently do (or could do at the time referenced in the writing), but would use "capability" for that person's/thing's maximum potential.

so, if a good writer says that something is beyond someone's abilities, it MIGHT still be possible for the person to learn to do that thing, or train to the point of being able to do it.
on the other hand, if a good writer says that something is beyond someone's capabilities, then the implication is that the person basically can't ever achieve that thing.

will you ever be TESTED on a difference like this? nope.

Hi Ron,

Thank you always for your elaborate explaination.
The distinction here may be too subtle to be any value to discuss, but I do not have confidence that I happen to know the difference between the important word choices, as in especially VS specially, so I tackle this one just in case.

Best Regards,

[RonPurewal]

ok -- but, if you start thinking about these things before you have COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED all possible chances of finding anything more fundamental / black-and-white, then, you'll do worse at SC than you would otherwise.

the question writers include these kinds of distractions, among other reasons, specifically for the purpose of punishing people who are easily distracted from fundamentals.
take note.

[evelynho]

ok -- but, if you start thinking about these things before you have COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED all possible chances of finding anything more fundamental / black-and-white, then, you'll do worse at SC than you would otherwise.

the question writers include these kinds of distractions, among other reasons, specifically for the purpose of punishing people who are easily distracted from fundamentals.
take note.

Thank you again, Ron, this advise help me grab some insights on my painstaking learning process right now - You guys rock...

[RonPurewal]

you're welcome.